Induction heating systems

ABSTRACT

A medical delivery device includes a first compartment configured to hold at least a portion of an activator that activates one or more molecular nanomachines. The first compartment includes a first wall that includes a first ferrous material, where the first wall is configured to disintegrate in response to first electromagnetic radiation received by the first ferrous material such that the activator activates the one or more molecular nanomachines. The device includes a second compartment configured to hold the one or more molecular nanomachines, wherein the second compartment includes a second wall that includes a second ferrous material, and wherein the second wall is configured to disintegrate and release the one or more molecular nanomachines into a patient in response to second electromagnetic radiation received by the second ferrous material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority as a continuation-in-partapplication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/515,616 filed on Jul.18, 2019, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/403,978 filed on May 6, 2019, which is adivisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/959,475filed on Apr. 23, 2018, which claims priority to U.S. Patent App. Ser.No. 62/507,894 filed on May 18, 2017 and to U.S. Patent App. No.62/500,380 filed on May 2, 2017. Each of these priority applications isincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Induction cooking is a form of cooking that utilizes an electromagneticradiation source, as opposed to thermal conduction from an open flame orelectrical heating element, to heat a ferrous metal. Specifically,traditional induction cooking involves using a ferrous cooking vessel(e.g., a cooking vessel made up of a metal or alloy having iron therein)in conjunction with an electromagnetic radiation source. Uponactivation, the electromagnetic radiation source emits electromagneticwaves or radiation that cause the ferrous cooking vessel to heat up,thereby heating the contents of the ferrous cooking vessel. As discussedthroughout, the embodiments described herein represent a departure fromtraditional induction cooking and traditional uses of inductiontechnology.

SUMMARY

In accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure, a method isdisclosed. The method includes positioning a medical device within asubject. The medical device includes a plurality of compartments andeach of the plurality of compartments includes a ferrous material.Further, each of the plurality of compartments is configured to hold asubstance. The method further includes delivering electromagneticradiation, by an electromagnetic radiation source, to the medical deviceand varying, by a controller, an amount of the electromagnetic radiationdelivered by the electromagnetic radiation source for selectivelyheating the ferrous material of at least one of the plurality ofcompartments and selectively releasing the substance held in the atleast one of the plurality of compartments for managing a condition.

In accordance with some other aspects of the present disclosure, asystem is disclosed. The system includes a medical device configured tobe positioned within a subject. The medical device includes a pluralityof compartments and each of the plurality of compartments is configuredto hold a substance. Each of the plurality of compartments includes aferrous material and each of the plurality of compartments is configuredto selectively dispense the substance held within a respective one ofthe plurality of compartments upon heating the ferrous material of therespective one of the plurality of compartments.

In accordance with yet other aspects of the present disclosure, a systemis disclosed. The system includes a sleeve having a ferrous material.The sleeve is configured to encompass at least a portion of an object.The system also includes an electromagnetic radiation source associatedwith the sleeve and configured to deliver electromagnetic radiation toheat the ferrous material of the sleeve such that the heat from theferrous material is transferred to the object for heating the object.

An illustrative medical delivery device includes a first compartmentconfigured to hold a first substance. The first compartment includes afirst wall that includes a first ferrous material, and the first wall isconfigured to disintegrate and release the first substance into apatient in response to first electromagnetic radiation received by thefirst ferrous material. The medical delivery device also includes asecond compartment attached to the first compartment and configured tohold a second substance. The second compartment includes a second wallthat includes a second ferrous material, and the second wall isconfigured to disintegrate and release the second substance into thepatient in response to second electromagnetic radiation received by thesecond ferrous material.

An illustrative method of forming a medical delivery device includesforming a first compartment configured to hold a first substance.Forming the first compartment includes forming a first wall of the firstcompartment that includes a first ferrous material such that the firstwall is configured to disintegrate and release the first substance intoa patient in response to first electromagnetic radiation received by thefirst ferrous material. The method also includes forming a secondcompartment configured to hold a second substance. Forming the secondcompartment includes forming a second wall that includes a secondferrous material such that the second wall is configured to disintegrateand release the second substance into the patient in response to secondelectromagnetic radiation received by the second ferrous material. Themethod further includes attaching the second compartment to the firstcompartment to form the medical delivery device.

An illustrative medical delivery device includes a first compartmentconfigured to hold at least a portion of an activator that activates oneor more molecular nanomachines. The first compartment includes a firstwall that includes a first ferrous material, where the first wall isconfigured to disintegrate in response to first electromagneticradiation received by the first ferrous material such that the activatoractivates the one or more molecular nanomachines. The device includes asecond compartment configured to hold the one or more molecularnanomachines, wherein the second compartment includes a second wall thatincludes a second ferrous material, and wherein the second wall isconfigured to disintegrate and release the one or more molecularnanomachines into a patient in response to second electromagneticradiation received by the second ferrous material.

An illustrative method of heat treatment includes identifying, by animaging system, one or more ferromagnetic particles within a patient.The method also includes moving, by one or more magnets positionedexternal to the patient, the one or more ferromagnetic particles intocontact with a target area of the patient. The method further includesemitting, by an electromagnetic radiation source, electromagneticradiation to heat the one or more ferromagnetic particles such that theone or more ferromagnetic particles damage or kill one or more targetsin the target area.

The foregoing is a summary of the disclosure and thus by necessitycontains simplifications, generalizations, and omissions of detail.Consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summaryis illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting.Other aspects, features, and advantages of the devices and/or processesdescribed herein, as defined by the claims, will become apparent in thedetailed description set forth herein and taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B depict an induction based cooking system having anon-ferrous cooking vessel with a cover of material subject to heatingby induction (i.e., induction cooking cover), in accordance with atleast some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2A and 2B depict an induction based cooking system having anon-ferrous cooking vessel with a hinged induction cooking cover, inaccordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 3A and 3B depict an induction based cooking system having anon-ferrous cooking vessel with a hinged induction two-piece cookingcover, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B depict an induction based cooking system having anon-ferrous cooking vessel with an accordion style induction cookingcover, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 5A and 5B depict an induction based cooking system having anon-ferrous cooking vessel with a frame that is configured to receiveone or more ferrous cover elements, in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 depicts a transformable induction cooking cover, in accordancewith at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 7A and 7B depict a non-ferrous cooking vessel having slots thereinto receive pieces of metal subject to heating by induction, inserted orremoved from the non-ferrous cooking vessel to enable heating to takeplace in a targeted and controlled manner (i.e., induction heatingelements), in accordance with at least some embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 depicts an induction smoker tray as a non-ferrous platform withinduction heating elements placed in a desired pattern such that heat isgenerated via the induction heating elements in the desired pattern, inaccordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 9A and 9B depict a non-ferrous cooking vessel configured toreceive a mobile induction heating element, in accordance with at leastsome embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 10A and 10B depict a cut-away view of a mobile induction heatingelement mounted on a wall of a non-ferrous cooking vessel, in accordancewith at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 depicts a cooking system having a non-ferrous cooking vesselcomprised of a base and cover, with sections of each containinginduction heating elements so that heating of food located between thebase and cover takes place from the top and bottom, where the top andbottom elements are not in homologous position to enable electromagneticradiation to pass through the base to the cover without interference(hereinafter ‘induction cooking cage’), in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 depicts a cooking system having a cooking vessel with automatedplacement and insertion of induction heating elements, in accordancewith at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 depicts a multi-chamber cooking package, in accordance with atleast some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 depicts a system for sealing a package, container, parcel, etc.using induction heating, in accordance with at least some embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 15 depicts a system for assembling or attaching components of aproduct using induction heating, in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 depicts another system for assembling or attaching components ofa product using induction heating, in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 17A and 17B depict a food packaging system with integratedinduction elements, in accordance with at least some embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 18A-18C depict induction elements having non-inductive portions,in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 19A-19D depict circuit switches that are triggered by inductionheating, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 20 depicts a system of detection based on induction heating, inaccordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 21 depicts a test tube with an induction heating element, inaccordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 22 depicts an attachment mechanism with a male to female connectionthat is controlled via induction induced heating, in accordance with atleast some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 depicts a medical device configured to facilitate controlledrelease of one or more medicines within a subject via induction heating,in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 24 depicts an object protected using a ferromagnetic sleeve, inaccordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

It is noted that the above-referenced figures are representational, andthat they are not intended to be limiting with respect to the formand/or shape of the various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to applications of induction heating. Forexample, the present disclosure relates to induction cooking.Conventional induction cooking involves use of a cooking vessel made ofa ferrous or similar material, where the cooking vessel receiveselectromagnetic energy from an electromagnetic radiation source. Theelectromagnetic energy from the electromagnetic radiation source heatsthe ferrous cooking vessel, which in turn causes the contents of thecooking vessel to cook. The present disclosure allows for inductioncooking to take place in a cooking vessel that is made of a non-ferrousmaterial. Specifically, to facilitate induction cooking using anon-ferrous cooking vessel, ferrous elements may be positioned on,around, or under the non-ferrous cooking vessel, incorporated into wallsof the non-ferrous cooking vessel, form the lid/cover of the non-ferrouscooking vessel, used in conjunction with the non-ferrous cooking vesseletc. to facilitate the induction heating of the contents of thenon-ferrous cooking vessel. In such implementations, the electromagneticradiation from the electromagnetic radiation source travels to theferrous elements of the non-ferrous cooking vessel to heat food in astrategic and targeted manner, as described in greater detail below.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an exemplary induction cooking system100 is shown, in accordance with at least some embodiments of thepresent disclosure. Specifically referring to FIG. 1A, the inductioncooking system 100 includes a cooking vessel 110 having a cooking cover120. It is to be understood that the shape and size of the cookingvessel 110 and the cooking cover 120, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, aremerely exemplary. In other embodiments, the cooking vessel 110 and thecooking cover 120 may assume other shapes and sizes, as desired.Specifically, the cooking cover 120 may assume a variety of shapes andsizes corresponding to the shape and size of the cooking vessel 110.Furthermore, in at least some embodiments, at least a portion of thecooking cover 120 is made of a ferrous material and the cooking vessel110 is made of a non-ferrous material.

Contents within the cooking vessel 110 are heated using a radiationsource 130. In an illustrative embodiment, the radiation source 130 is asource of electromagnetic radiation. Furthermore, the distance betweenthe radiation source 130 and the ferrous materials (e.g., the cookingcover 120) may be varied but kept within a commonly known range toeffectively facilitate heating of the ferrous materials. Likewise, thepositioning (e.g., orientation and angle) of the radiation source 130relative to the ferrous materials (e.g., the cooking cover 120) may bevaried to achieve a desired heating profile. As used herein, “heatingprofile” means the direction, angle, and intensity of heat that isdesired to effectively and appropriately heat the contents of thecooking vessel 110.

Thus, electromagnetic radiation from the radiation source 130 is used toheat the ferrous portions of the induction cooking system 100, such asthe cooking cover 120. The cooking cover 120 then transfers the heat tothe contents of the cooking vessel 110 to heat the contents therein.Since the cooking vessel 110 is made of a non-ferrous material, theradiation source 130 does not heat the cooking vessel 110. The radiationsource 130 only heats the cooking cover 120, which is ferrous in nature.By virtue of heating the contents of the cooking vessel 110 using thecooking cover 120, the contents (e.g., food) of the cooking vessel arestrategically heated from the top, as opposed to the bottom.

Furthermore, in at least some embodiments and, as shown in FIGS. 1A and1B, the cooking cover 120 includes induction heating elements 140suspended from the cooking cover. The cooking cover can be ferrous or atleast partially ferrous in an illustrative embodiment. Alternatively,the cooking cover may be non-ferrous. FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate two ofthe induction heating elements 140. In alternative embodiments,additional or fewer than two of the induction heating elements 140 maybe used. For example, in some embodiments, a single induction heatingelement may be used, while in other embodiments, three, four, five, orpossibly greater number of induction heating elements may be used.Furthermore, the shape, size, and configuration of the induction heatingelements 140 may vary from one embodiment to another.

Additionally, for a given one of the cooking cover 120, the shape, size,and configuration of each of the induction heating elements 140 may varyfrom another one of the induction heating element. Likewise, theplacement of each of the induction heating elements 140 may vary on thecooking cover 120. For example, in at least some embodiments, each ofthe induction heating elements 140 may be positioned equidistant fromone another—whether closer to the center of the cooking cover 120 orcloser to the periphery of the cooking cover. In other embodiments, theinduction heating elements 140 need not be positioned equidistant fromone another. Rather, the positioning of the induction heating elements140 may vary depending upon the heating profile of the contents withinthe cooking vessel 110 that is desired.

Furthermore, in some embodiments and as shown, the induction heatingelements 140 may be hung from the bottom of the cooking cover 120. Eachof the induction heating elements 140 may be hung using a hook/loopattachment, magnetic attachment, other attachment mechanism, orintegrally formed as a unitary piece of the cooking cover 120. By virtueof extending downwardly from the bottom of the cooking cover 120, theinduction heating elements 140 extend into the cooking vessel 110 and,thus, may be positioned relative to the food/contents of the cookingvessel to strategically heat the contents of the cooking vessel.Additionally, in some embodiments, the induction heating elements 140may be extendable/retractable such that they may be lowered into orraised above the contents of the cooking vessel 110, as desired. Such anextendable/retractable feature may be implemented using a telescopinginduction heating element, by a segmented induction heating element inwhich portions can be added and removed, and/or by a hinged inductionheating element in which hinged portions of the induction heatingelement can be raised or lowered.

While the induction heating elements 140 have been shown and describedas extending downwardly from the cooking cover 120, in otherembodiments, the induction heating elements may be provided to extendinto the cooking vessel 110 from the sides of the cooking vessel or fromthe bottom of the cooking vessel. These additional ones of the inductionheating elements 140 (e.g., the induction heating elements extendingfrom the sides or bottom of the cooking vessel) may be provided inaddition to or instead of the induction heating elements extendingdownwardly from the cooking cover 120.

In at least some embodiments, the cooking cover 120 also includes ahandle 150. In at least some embodiments, the handle 150 is made from aheat resistant, non-ferrous material (e.g., wood, glass, ceramic, etc.)such that it is not directly heated as a result of the electromagneticradiation that heats the rest of the cooking cover 120. The size, shape,configuration, placement, etc. of the handle 150 may vary in differentembodiments, and is not limited to the example configuration illustratedin FIGS. 1A and 1B. In at least some embodiments, more than a single oneof the handle 150 may be provided as well.

While the induction cooking system 100 described above has beendescribed as having the cooking vessel 110 that is made of a non-ferrousmaterial and the cooking cover 120 that is made of a ferrous material,it is to be understood that in at least some embodiments, variations arecontemplated. For example, in some embodiments, only portions of thecooking vessel 110 may be made of a non-ferrous material such that thecooking vessel 110 may be partly made of a ferrous material. Likewise,in some embodiments, only portions of the cooking cover 120 may be madeof a ferrous material with the remaining portions of the cooking covermade of a non-ferrous material.

In general, the portions of the cooking vessel 110 and the cooking cover120 that are ferrous and non-ferrous depend upon the heating profile ofthe contents of the vessel that is desired. Additionally, while theinduction cooking system 100 has been described from the perspective ofcooking food, it is to be understood that the present disclosure(including the embodiments described below) may be used in applicationsother than cooking. For example, the induction cooking system 100 may beused in any application that requires heating of any contents (food ornon-food) within the cooking vessel 110 by using induction heat.

Turning now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, an induction cooking system 200 isshown, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The induction cooking system 200 includes a cooking cover210 attached to a cooking vessel 220 via hinges 230. While theembodiments of FIGS. 2A and 2B show the cooking cover 210 as attached tothe cooking vessel 220 via two of the hinges 230, in other embodiments,additional or fewer hinges may be used. Additionally, a connectionmechanism other than the hinges 230 may be used in other embodiments tomovably attach the cooking cover 210 to the cooking vessel 220.Furthermore, the hinges 230 may be made of a ferrous or a non-ferrousmaterial. Again, and similar to the cooking vessel 110 and the cookingcover 120, the shape and size of the cooking cover 210 and the cookingvessel 220 may vary from one embodiment to another.

In at least some embodiments, the cooking cover 210 is made of a ferrousmaterial and the cooking vessel 220 is made from a non-ferrous material.Thus, the cooking cover 220 generates heat upon receipt ofelectromagnetic energy from a radiation source 240. Similar to theradiation source 130, the radiation source 240 is a source capable ofgenerating electromagnetic radiation for heating ferrous materials. Alsosimilar to the radiation source 130, the positioning and orientation ofthe radiation source 240 may vary from one embodiment to another.Furthermore, as is known to those of skill in the art, the orientationof the ferrous material relative to the electromagnetic radiationaffects the intensity of heat generated by the ferrous material (in thiscase the cooking cover 210). Thus, by virtue of varying the orientationof the cooking cover 210 relative to the radiation source 240, the heatgenerated by the cooking cover may be varied to vary the heat deliveredto the contents of the cooking vessel 220.

Specifically, in FIG. 2A, the cooking cover 210 is shown in an openposition, such that an opening 250 is present on the top of the cookingvessel 220 revealing any contents of the cooking vessel. In this openposition, the cooking cover 210 is oriented parallel to theelectromagnetic radiation emitted from the radiation source 240. On theother hand, FIG. 2B depicts the cooking cover 210 in a closed positionsuch that any contents of the cooking vessel 220 are not visible fromthe opening 250. In this closed position, the cooking cover 210 isoriented perpendicular to the electromagnetic radiation emitted from theradiation source 240. Thus, the heat profile generated by the cookingcover 210 in an open position is different from the heat profilegenerated by the cooking cover in a closed position. In otherembodiments, the hinges 230 may allow for more than a parallel andperpendicular orientation of the cooking cover 210 relative to theradiation source 240, such that the intensity of heat may be varied asdesired by the user. For example, the hinges 230 (or any otherattachment mechanism that is used) may include a sufficient amount offriction to hold the cooking cover 210 in any desired position betweenthe fully open position (FIG. 2A) and the fully closed position (FIG.2B). The variation of heat intensity may alternatively or in addition tothe movement of the cooking cover 210 be achieved by varying theposition and/or orientation of the radiation source 240.

Furthermore, while not shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the cooking cover 210may also include a handle similar to the handle 150 of FIGS. 1A and 1B.Additionally, the cooking cover 210 and/or the cooking vessel 220 mayinclude induction heating elements similar to the induction heatingelements 140. Moreover, portions of the cooking cover 210 may be made ofa non-ferrous material and/or portions of the cooking vessel 220 may bemade of a ferrous material in some embodiments. Also, the hinges 230 orother flexible connectors used to connect the cooking cover 210 to thecooking vessel 220 may be used in other embodiments to implement avariety of cooking covers and associated cooking vessels, each of whichmay be associated with a desired cooking strategy. Some of thevariations of flexible connectors/hinges are shown in FIGS. 3A/3B and4A/4B below.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 3A and 3B, an induction cooking system300 having a cooking cover 310 is shown, in accordance with at leastsome embodiments of the present disclosure. Specifically, in at leastsome embodiments, the cooking cover 310 is a hinged two-piece cookingcover. The cooking cover 310, which is made at least partially from aferrous material, is attached to a cooking vessel 320 via hinges 330 ontwo sides of the cooking vessel. The cooking vessel 320 may be at leastpartially non-ferrous. While two of the hinges 330 are shown to connecteach side of the cooking vessel 320 to the cooking cover 310, it is tobe understood that additional or fewer hinges may be used on each side.It is also to be understood that attachment mechanisms other than thehinges 330 may be used to connect the cooking cover 310 to the cookingvessel 320.

Furthermore, each piece of the cooking cover 310 may be individuallymanipulated to achieve various configurations and orientations relativeto both the contents of the cooking vessel 320 and a radiation source340. As discussed above, the angle of the ferrous material relative tothe electromagnetic radiation from the radiation source 340 may bevaried to vary the intensity of heat delivered to the cooking vessel320. As such, a user may control the heat delivered to the contents ofthe cooking vessel 320 to a desired level by varying the angularpositioning of one or both of the radiation source 340 and each piece ofthe cooking cover 310.

FIG. 3A depicts both pieces of the cooking cover 310 in a closedposition (i.e., covering the top opening of the cooking vessel 320).FIG. 3B depicts one piece of the cooking cover 310 in a closed positionand the other piece in an open position such that the top opening of thecooking vessel 320 is partially open and partially closed and attains aheat profile that is at least somewhat different from the heat profileof the configuration of FIG. 3A. Similar to the cooking cover 210, in atleast some embodiments, each piece of the cooking cover 310 is connectedto the cooking vessel 320 via the hinges 330 (or other attachmentmechanism) to achieve a plurality of angular positions between the fullyopen position and the fully closed position to adjust the heat profile.

In at least some embodiments, each piece of the cooking cover 310 alsoincludes a handle 350 that may be made of a non-ferrous material tofacilitate opening and closing of the respective piece of the cookingcover. Each of the two pieces of the cooking cover 310 may also bedetachable/removable from the cooking vessel 320 in some embodiments.Furthermore, the two pieces of the cooking cover 310 need not be ofequal size. Rather, in some embodiments, one piece of the cooking cover310 may be of a larger size than the other piece to further manipulatethe heating profile. In another embodiment, the cooking cover 310 mayinclude a plurality of handles for stylistic effect and/or for hangingthe cooking cover 310. The handle(s) can be folded such that cookingvessels can be stacked upon one another with the cooking covers inplace. The cooking cover may also be removable for storing, washing,and/or for use as a serving dish.

Also, in at least some embodiments, the cooking cover 310 and/or thecooking vessel 320 may have induction heating elements (e.g., similar tothe induction heating elements 140 of FIGS. 1A and 1B) to further adjustthe heat generated by the ferrous portions of the induction cookingsystem 300. Furthermore, while the embodiment above has been describedas each piece of the cooking cover 310 being made of a ferrous material,in at least some embodiments, only portions of one or both pieces of thecooking cover may be made of a ferrous material with the remainingportions being made of a non-ferrous material. Specifically, thecombination of the ferrous and non-ferrous materials in one or bothpieces of the cooking cover 310 depends upon the heating profile that isdesired. Also and as mentioned above, the cooking cover 310 may beattached to the cooking vessel 320 by movable mechanisms other thanhinges.

Turning now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, an induction cooking system 400 isshown, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The induction cooking system 400 includes an accordion stylecooking cover 410 having a plurality of sections 420 that are connectedto one another via hinges 430 or another attachment mechanism thatallows the plurality of sections to fold in a manner described below.Specifically and as shown in FIG. 4B, the accordion style cooking cover410 includes two jointed portions 440 and 450. Each of the two jointedportions 440 and 450 are attached to one side of a cooking vessel 460(e.g., in a manner similar to the cooking cover 310 of FIGS. 3A and 3B).In at least some embodiments, hinges 470 may be used to movably attacheach of the two jointed portions 440 and 450 to the cooking vessel 460.In other embodiments, other mechanisms may be used to connect the twojointed portions 440 and 450 of the accordion style cooking cover 410 tothe cooking vessel 460.

Furthermore, each of the two jointed portions 440 and 450 may berolled/folded toward an outside edge 480 (see FIG. 4B) of the cookingvessel 460 to provide an opening 490 (see FIG. 4B) at the top of thecooking vessel. FIG. 4A depicts the accordion style cooking cover 410 ina closed position and FIG. 4B depicts the accordion style cooking coverin a substantially open position. The opening 490 of the cooking vessel460 may be varied by folding or unfolding the jointed portions 440 and450 until the opening is of a desired size. By virtue of varying theopening 490 of the cooking vessel 460, a user may adjust the position ofthe accordion style cooking cover 410 based on desired heat and cookingpreferences (in a manner described above in FIGS. 2A/2B and 3A/3B).

While the accordion style cooking cover 410 has been described above ashaving the two jointed portions 440 and 450 and each of the jointedportions having a plurality of sections 420, other variations of theaccordion style cooking cover are contemplated and considered within thescope of this present disclosure. For example, in an alternativeembodiment, the accordion style cooking cover 410 may be a single hingedcover that gets rolled/folded towards a single edge/side of the cookingvessel 460. In other embodiments, the accordion style cooking cover 410may be made of more than two of the jointed portions 440 and 450 andeach of the jointed portions may include a plurality of sections (suchas the plurality of sections 420) connected flexibly with respect to oneanother. Additionally, in some embodiments, the accordion style cookingcover 410 may not be attached to the cooking vessel 460 at all and may,rather, simply rest on top of the cooking vessel. Othervariations/configurations of the accordion style cooking cover 410 arealso envisioned, and the description is not intended to be limited bythe specific configuration of FIGS. 4A and 4B.

Furthermore, in at least some embodiments and as shown, each of theplurality of sections 420 of the accordion style cooking cover 410 aremade of a ferrous material. In other embodiments, less than all of theplurality of sections 420 may be made of a ferrous material with theremaining ones of the plurality of sections being made of a non-ferrousmaterial. Likewise, in at least some embodiments, at least a portion ofthe cooking vessel 460 may be made from a non-ferrous material. Again,the combination of the ferrous and non-ferrous material in the pluralityof sections 420, as well as in the cooking vessel 460 depends upon theheating profile that is desired. By virtue of making at least some ofthe plurality of sections 420 of the accordion style cooking cover 410of a ferrous material, the accordion style cooking cover may be heatedby an electromagnetic radiation source 495, in a manner described above.

Moreover, while not shown, the induction cooking system 400 may beprovided with one or more handles (e.g., similar to the handle 150 ofFIGS. 1A/1B) and one or more induction heating elements (e.g., similarto the induction heating elements 140 of FIGS. 1A/1B).

Turning now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, yet another embodiment of an inductioncooking system 500 is shown, in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present disclosure. The induction cooking system 500includes a cooking vessel 510 and a frame 520 attached to or resting ona top perimeter 530 of the cooking vessel. The frame 520 is configuredto receive one or more cover elements 540, in accordance with at leastsome embodiments. The frame 520 itself may be made of a ferrous ornon-ferrous material, depending up on the implementation and the heatingprofile desired. For example, FIG. 5A shows the frame 520 as being madeof a ferrous material, while FIG. 5B shows the frame as being made of anon-ferrous material.

Furthermore, in at least some embodiments, the frame 520 may be designedto be detachable from the cooking vessel 510, or in some embodiments,the frame may be permanently mounted on the cooking vessel.Additionally, in at least some embodiments, the cooking vessel 510 maybe made of a non-ferrous material, while in other embodiments, a portionof the cooking vessel may be made of a ferrous material. Again, theferrous/non-ferrous material combination of the cooking vessel 510 andthe frame 520 depends upon the heating profile that is desired.Furthermore, the size of the frame 520 may vary from one embodiment toanother depending upon the size of the cover elements 540 that the framemay receive and support.

In at least some embodiments, the cover elements 540 may include acombination of ferrous elements 550 that are made of a ferrous materialand non-ferrous elements 560 that are made of a non-ferrous material. Inother embodiments, all of the cover elements 540 may be made of aferrous material. Further, while FIG. 5B shows the cover elements 540 ashaving two of the ferrous elements 550 and two of the non-ferrouselements 560, this is merely exemplary. The number of the ferrouselements 550 and the non-ferrous elements 560 may vary depending uponthe heating profile that is desired. Additionally, in at least someembodiments, instead of using the non-ferrous elements 560, portions ofthe cooking vessel 510 may be left uncovered such that gaps may existbetween the ferrous elements 550. Alternatively, in some embodiments, acombination of the ferrous elements 550, the non-ferrous elements 560,and uncovered spaces may be used.

Furthermore, a user may arrange the ferrous elements 550, thenon-ferrous elements 560, and the open spaces to achieve a desiredheating profile. Also, the number of the cover elements 540, theirshape, their placement/orientation are all variable subject to thedesired cooking style and needs of the user. Moreover, in at least someembodiments, the cover elements 540 may be detachably connected in anyof a variety of ways to the frame 520, while in other embodiments, thecover elements may be permanently attached or built-in to the frame. Thecover elements 540 and particularly the ferrous elements 550 of thecover elements receive electromagnetic radiation from a radiation source570. The radiation source 570 is similar to the radiation source 130,240, 340, and 495.

Additionally, as discussed above, the induction cooking system 500 mayinclude one of more handles and/or one or more induction heatingelements, as described above in FIGS. 1A and 1B, to achieve desiredheating profiles.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a cooking cover 600 is shown, in accordancewith at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. Specifically,the cooking cover 600 is a transformable cooking cover. In at least someembodiments, the cooking cover 600 is made from a ferrous material. Inother embodiments, at least a portion of the cooking cover 600 may bemade from a non-ferrous material. In a first configuration and as shown,the cooking cover 600 is a square cooking cover 610, and in a secondconfiguration, the square cooking cover is transformed into a circularcooking cover 620. Notwithstanding the transformation of the cookingcover 600 from the square cooking cover 610 to the circular cookingcover 620, various other shapes and configurations of the cooking cover,both before and after the transformation are contemplated and consideredwithin the scope of the present disclosure.

The transformation of the cooking cover 600 from one configuration toanother may be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example and in oneembodiment, the cooking cover 600 includes a plurality of hingedportions (not shown) that allow the cooking cover to be configured intoa plurality of distinct shapes by varying the shape and size of thehinged portions (e.g., by folding/unfolding the hinged portions similarto the accordion style cooking cover 410, discussed above). Thus, totransform the square cooking cover 610 into the circular cooking cover620, a hinged corner portion of each of the corners of the squarecooking cover may be folded inward onto/over a remainder of the cookingcover such that circular portions of the circular cooking cover 620 areobtained. The circular cooking cover 620 may be transformed back intothe square cooking cover 610 by unfolding the previously folded hingedportions.

Another mechanism of transforming the cooking cover 600 from oneconfiguration to another may include sliding cover sections (also notshown). In such embodiments, the cooking cover 600 includes a pluralityof cover sections capable of sliding over or under neighboring coversections. As such, the cover sections may be layered until the desiredshape/configuration of the cooking cover 600 is attained. For example,to transform the square cooking cover 610 into the circular cookingcover 620, the corner sections of the square cooking cover 610 may beslid under or over neighboring cover sections until the cooking coverachieves a circular shape of the circular cooking cover 620.

In some embodiments, the cooking cover 600 itself may be made of aplurality of layered sections such that the square cooking cover 610 maybe transformed into the circular cooking cover 620 by sliding coversections in between an upper and a lower layer of the cooking cover toform the circular cooking cover. In yet other embodiments, the cookingcover 600 may include a frame (e.g., similar to the frame 520). Theframe may be made out of various flexible frame portions that may bemolded (e.g., by varying the frame portions relative to one another)into various shapes. The frame may be designed to receive variousferrous and non-ferrous cover elements (e.g., similar to the coverelements 540). The cover elements may themselves be made of flexibleportions that may change shape to adapt to the shape of the frame or avariety of sizes of the cover elements may be provided to accommodatethe various shapes that the frame may be molded into. Other suchmechanisms of varying the shape of the cooking cover 600 arecontemplated.

By virtue of using transformable cooking covers (e.g., the cooking cover600), the present disclosure allows a user to convert existingnon-ferrous cooking vessels of varying shapes into induction cookingsystems at a minimal cost. In addition, by targeting electromagneticradiation on top of the cooking vessel and cover, such transformablecooking covers can be used to convert an existing ferrous cooking vesselinto an induction cooking system.

Again, it is to be understood that while the explanation above has beenwith respect to the square cooking cover 610 transforming into thecircular cooking cover 620, in alternative embodiments, the cookingcover 600 may be configured from and into additional shapes, such asrectangular, triangular, hexagonal, etc.

Thus, the embodiments described herein allow significant flexibility tobe achieved in the process of induction cooking. The cooking vessel maybe non-ferrous and in any of a variety of shapes, including a cylinder,cube, parallelepiped, or other shape. By virtue of using the embodimentsdescribed herein, the cooking vessel does not need to be made from aspecial and expensive cooking metal. Additionally, a household (orcommercial) kitchen may have a large number of cooking vessels that maybe made of, for example, a heat resistant plastic. In one embodiment,these heat resistant plastic cooking vessels may be stackable and/orpartially foldable. By virtue of using the embodiments described herein,foods cooked in such heat resistant plastic containers may berefrigerated or frozen in the same container in which the food is cooked(e.g., using the ferrous cooking covers described above). There is noneed to transfer the food from a ferrous cooking pot to a differentcontainer, which is the norm in conventional cooking methods, therebysimplifying not only cooking, but also food storage, while reducing thenumbers of dishes that need to be cleaned after cooking.

As discussed above, the cooking vessels described herein may be ofvarious shapes and sizes, and may be formed of a heat resistant glass,plastic, or wood, for example. Other non-ferrous materials may also beused. In at least some embodiments, the cooking vessels may in factinclude certain ferrous portions (e.g., incorporated within the cookingvessel during production). In other embodiments, existing non-ferrouscooking vessels may be transformed into induction heat suitable cookingvessels, as discussed below. The transformation of a cooking vesselunsuitable for induction cooking into a cooking vessel suitable forinduction cooking may be achieved in a variety of ways. For example, inone embodiment, the cooking vessel may be configured to receiveinduction heating elements (e.g., ferrous pieces) at a plurality ofdifferent locations in and around the cooking vessel. In these cases,the walls of the cooking vessel may receive induction heating elementsvia hooks or other attachment mechanisms. The cooking vessel may alsoreceive the induction heating elements through one or more openingsand/or compartments in a wall of the cooking vessel.

Specifically referring now to FIGS. 7A and 7B, a cooking vessel 700includes induction heating elements 710, in accordance with at leastsome embodiments of the present disclosure. The induction heatingelements 710, in at least some embodiments, are mounted to a wall of thecooking vessel 700. Furthermore, in at least some embodiments, theinduction heating elements 710 may be mounted to the wall of the cookingvessel 700 via hooks or any other attachment mechanism. Furthermore, theinduction heating elements 710 may be permanently or detachably mountedto the wall of the cooking vessel 700.

Notwithstanding the fact that the induction heating elements 710 havebeen shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B on only one wall of the cooking vessel700, this is merely exemplary. In other embodiments, the inductionheating elements 710 may be mounted to more than one wall of the cookingvessel 700. Furthermore, the number of the induction heating elements710 that may be mounted to one or more walls of the cooking vessel 700may vary from one embodiment to another depending upon the heatingprofile that is desired. Likewise, the shape, size, thickness,positioning, and angular orientation of the induction heating elements710 may vary. Additionally, the induction heating elements 710 may bemounted to an interior wall of the cooking vessel 700 or alternativelyor additionally, the induction heating elements may be mounted to anexterior wall of the cooking vessel.

In at least some embodiments, the cooking vessel 700 also includes slots720 through which additional induction heating elements may be added tothe cooking vessel to customize the heating profile of the cookingvessel. FIG. 7A illustrates two such induction heating slots, however,fewer or additional slots may be used in alternative embodiments. Alsoand similar to the induction heating elements 710, while the slots 720have been shown on only one wall of the cooking vessel 700, in otherembodiments, the slots may be provided one multiple walls of the cookingvessel to tailor the heating profile of the cooking vessel.Additionally, the placement, orientation, shape, and size of the slots720 may differ in alternative embodiments.

In one embodiment, the slots 720 may be openings in a wall of thecooking vessel 700 into which induction heating elements may be placedinto direct contact with the contents of the cooking vessel. Theinduction heating elements may be received within the openings of theslots 720 in any of a variety of ways that may be suitable. In someembodiments, the openings in the wall may include a door or otherclosable member to receive the induction heating elements. The slots 720may, in some embodiments, also include notches in which the inductionheating elements may be removably attached. In other embodiments, theslots 720 may be designed as compartments, which hold the inductionheating elements. Doors may similarly be used to close the compartmentssuch that the induction heating elements do not fall out if the cookingvessel 700 is moved. The induction heating elements may also be mountedvia hooks or other attachment mechanisms in some embodiments. Acombination of methods discussed above or other methods may be used tosecure the induction heating elements. The embodiment of FIG. 7A depictsthe slots 720 without induction heating elements. FIG. 7B depictsinduction heating elements 730 placed into the slots 720.

As discussed above, “induction heating elements” pieces of metal subjectto heating by induction, inserted or removed from a non-ferrous cookingvessel to enable heating to take place in a targeted and controlledmanner. Specifically and as discussed in greater detail above, the“induction heating elements” may be composed of a material that mayfacilitate heating of the “induction heating elements” using anelectromagnetic radiation source. Depending upon the application forwhich the “induction heating elements” are used, the “induction heatingelements” may be designed to be suitable for that application. Forexample, if the “induction heating elements” are used for inductioncooking, then the “induction heating elements” may be composed of amaterial or be positioned in a manner that is suitable for cooking andfor being around food safely without poisoning the food.

Furthermore, in at least some embodiments, the same induction heatingelement(s) that are used to cook the food may be allowed to remain inthe cooking vessel when the leftover food is refrigerated or frozen.When the food is to be reheated, the cooking vessel and inductionheating element(s) may be simply placed on an induction stove (or otherelectromagnetic radiation source) for the radiation to heat theinduction heating element(s), thereby reheating the food without theneed to transfer the food from one container to another. The containerin which the food is stored can be non-ferrous container such as coatedcardboard. The user therefore does not have to utilize a cooking vesselthat may be needed for other food preparation purposes in order to havethis convenience.

Again and discussed above, the shape, size, and material of the cookingvessel 700 may vary from one embodiment to another. Additionally, thecooking vessel 700 need not always be a container type vessel. In atleast some embodiments, the cooking vessel 700 may be a pan, bowl, orother type of non-ferrous vessel, or a tray as discussed in FIG. 8below. Further, while not shown, the cooking vessel 700 may include oneor more handles, as well as other features (e.g., venting holes) thatcooking vessels typically have. Additionally, the cooking vessel 700 mayhave suspended induction heating element(s) within the cooking vessel,such as those discussed in FIGS. 1A and 1B above.

Turning now to FIG. 8, an induction smoker tray 800 is shown, inaccordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. Theinduction smoker tray 800 includes a plurality of receptacles 810 intowhich wood chips/pieces 820 may be placed. In one embodiment, theinduction smoker tray 800 may be made of a non-ferrous material and thereceptacles 810 may be made of a ferrous material, such that the woodchips/pieces 820 in the receptacles are heated with an electromagneticheating source (not shown). Alternatively, the induction smoker tray 800may be made of a ferrous material and the receptacles 810 may be made ofa non-ferrous material. In yet another alternative embodiment, both theinduction smoker tray 800 and the receptacles 810 may be made from aferrous material or portions of the smoker tray and the receptacles maybe made of a ferrous material with the remaining portions being made ofa non-ferrous material. Upon application of electromagnetic radiation tothe induction smoker tray 800, the wood chips/pieces 820 are heated togenerate smoke, which may be used to cook and/or impart flavor ontofood. The use of the receptacles 810 allows for selective heating (i.e.,some receptacles may include wood chips/pieces and others may be leftempty), which is not possible in a traditional flame based smoker.

Notwithstanding the fact that FIG. 8 shows the arrangement of thereceptacles 810 in a certain way, this is merely exemplary. The shape,size, orientation, and placement of the receptacles 810 may vary fromone embodiment to another. Likewise, while FIG. 8 has been described ashaving the wood chips/pieces 820 in the receptacles 810, in otherembodiments, at least some of those receptacles may be filled with othertypes of materials such as flavor capsules, other foods, chemicals, etc.that impart a desired flavor to the food. Alternatively, at least aportion of the receptacles may be left empty.

Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, yet another type of a cooking vessel 900is shown, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The cooking vessel 900 includes an induction heating element910. Similar to the cooking vessels discussed above, the cooking vessel900 is composed of a non-ferrous material such that heat from anelectromagnetic radiation source 920 is delivered to the contents of thecooking vessel through the induction heating element 910. In otherembodiments, the cooking vessel 900 may be a combination of ferrous andnon-ferrous material in which case, heat is delivered to the contents ofthe cooking vessel via the ferrous portions of the cooking vessel andthe induction heating element 910. Again, the shape, size,configuration, and features of the cooking vessel 900 may vary from thatshown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

With respect to the induction heating element 910 in particular, it maybe a mobile induction heating element capable of being positioned in avariety of positions. For example, FIG. 9A depicts the induction heatingelement 910 in a first orientation relative to both a wall of thecooking vessel 900 and to the electromagnetic radiation source 920. FIG.9B depicts the induction heating element 910 in a second orientationrelative to both the wall of the cooking vessel 900 and to theelectromagnetic radiation source 920. While FIGS. 9A and 9B show twoorientations of the induction heating element 910, various otherorientations of the induction heating element are contemplated andconsidered within the scope of the present disclosure. In oneembodiment, the induction heating element(s) can be automated and moveby themselves such that the cook does not need to periodically stir thefood. The motion of the induction heating elements will distribute heatthrough conduction and convection. Such automation can be achievedthrough the use of miniature servo-motors, through a controlled magnet,etc.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the induction heating element 910 isattached to the wall of the cooking vessel 900 via a hook and latchattachment (not shown) at an upper portion of the induction heatingelement that allows the induction heating element to rotate about ahorizontal axis. As such, the induction heating element 910 is able topivot from its position in FIG. 9A upward to the position shown in FIG.9B and to many other configurations. In an alternative embodiment, theupper portion of the induction heating element 910 is secured to thewall of the cooking vessel 900 via a pivot rod or any other mechanismthat allows the mobile induction heating element to pivot about an axis.While the description above describes motion of the induction heatingelement 910 about a horizontal axis, in at least some embodiments, theinduction heating element may be configured to pivot about a verticalaxis or at an angular axis, as may be deemed suitable. As mentionedabove and discussed again below, the orientation of the inductionheating element with respect to the electromagnetic radiation source maybe varied to vary the heat intensity delivered by the induction heatingelement to the cooking vessel 900.

Furthermore, the orientation of the induction heating element 910 may bevaried automatically by using a spring mechanism 930 attached to theinduction heating element. The spring mechanism 930 includes a spring940 attached to the induction heating element 910. In one embodiment,the spring mechanism 930 is configured to release the induction heatingelement 910 (e.g., to vary the orientation of the induction heatingelement) if a temperature in the cooking vessel 900 is, for example,less than a threshold temperature. The temperature in the cooking vessel900 may be determined by a temperature sensor (not shown) in the cookingvessel, and the spring mechanism 930 may be automatically controlled byan actuator (also not shown) that is in communication with thetemperature sensor. Upon receipt of a low temperature indication fromthe temperature sensor, the actuator may be configured to actuate thespring mechanism 930, which in turn may then move the induction heatingelement 910 from the orientation of FIG. 9A to the orientation of FIG.9B or to another orientation until the threshold temperature is attainedwithin the cooking vessel 900. Alternatively, the spring mechanism 930may be manually operated to adjust the position of the induction heatingelement 910. In such an embodiment, the spring mechanism 930 alsoincludes a handle, lever, etc. such that a user may use to manipulatethe spring 940 and thereby adjust the induction heating element 910 intodifferent orientations.

By virtue of adjusting the orientation of the induction heating element910 with respect to the electromagnetic radiation source 920, thesurface area of the induction heating element may be varied, therebyvarying the heating intensity of the induction heating element.Specifically, the orientation of the induction heating element 910relative to the electromagnetic radiation source 920 dictates the amountof heat generated by the induction heating element. For example, byorienting the induction heating element 910 into the position shown inFIG. 9B, more surface area of the induction heating element is directlyexposed to the electromagnetic radiation that is emitted from theelectromagnetic radiation source 920 located underneath the cookingvessel 900. Thus, the ability to manipulate the induction heatingelement 910 into different orientations enables a user to change theheating profile that is applied to the food and heat/cook the food moreeffectively and quickly. In at least some embodiments, the positioning,angle, and distance of the electromagnetic radiation source 920 relativeto the induction heating element 910 may be varied to vary the heatingprofile.

Notwithstanding the specific embodiment described above in FIGS. 9A and9B, variations are contemplated and considered within the scope of thepresent disclosure. For example, while the electromagnetic radiationsource 920 has been described as being situated underneath the cookingvessel 900, in at least some embodiments, the electromagnetic radiationsource may be located above and/or on one or more sides of the cookingvessel. Similarly, in other alternative embodiments, the springmechanism 930 may be replaced by any other attachment mechanism thatallows the induction heating element 910 to be manually or automaticallymoved into various orientations relative to the electromagneticradiation source 920. Additionally, when the food is cooked and a giventemperature is to be maintained, rather than increased, the springmechanism 930 may be manually or automatically retracted such that theinduction heating element 910 is no longer fully facing theelectromagnetic radiation source 920. Automatic retraction of the springmechanism 930 may be facilitated in the same manner as extending thespring mechanism by using the temperature sensor and the actuator.

Thus, by enabling the induction heating element 910 to be moved into avariety of orientations relative to the electromagnetic radiation source920, the embodiments of FIGS. 9A and 9B allow the heat delivered to thecontents of the cooking vessel 900 to be controlled based on the amountof surface area of the induction heating element 910 that is directlyexposed to the electromagnetic radiation from the electromagneticradiation source 920. Again, a larger exposed surface area generatesmore heat and, therefore, cooks food at a higher temperature, while asmaller exposed surface generated less heat and cooks food at a lowertemperature. Also, while only one of the induction heating element 910has been shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a plurality of such induction heatingelements may be provided on one or more walls of the cooking vessel 900controlled by one or an additional number of the spring mechanisms,temperature sensors, and actuators. Likewise, the size, shape, andplacement of the induction heating element 910 may vary from oneembodiment to another.

Turning now to FIGS. 10A and 10B, an alternate mechanism of varying theorientation of the induction heating element of FIGS. 9A and 9B isshown, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. Specifically, FIGS. 10A and 10B depict a cut-away view of aninduction heating element 1000 mounted on a wall 1010 of a cookingvessel 1020, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. Only portions and features of the cooking vessel 1020 thatare necessary for a proper understanding of the present embodiment areshown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. Nevertheless, as discussed with respect toFIGS. 9A and 9B above, the cooking vessel 1020 includes one or moretemperature sensors, one or more actuators, and at least oneelectromagnetic radiation source for heating the induction heatingelement 1000. Likewise, while a single iteration of the inductionheating element 1000 is shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, multiple ones of theinduction heating element may be provided on one or more walls of thecooking vessel 1020.

Similar to the embodiments of FIGS. 9A and 9B, the induction heatingelement 1000 is a mobile induction heating element capable of beingoriented in varying positions relative to the electromagnetic radiationsource, not shown. The induction heating element 1000 is attached to thewall 1010 of the cooking vessel 1020 via a hook and latch attachment1030 at an upper portion of the mobile induction heating element. Thehook and latch attachment 1030 allows the induction heating element 1000to rotate about a horizontal axis. In the embodiments of FIGS. 10A and10B, a screw 1040 is used to manipulate the induction heating element1000 into a desired orientation. FIG. 10A illustrates the inductionheating element 1000 in a retracted position, and FIG. 10B illustratesthe induction heating element in a partially extended position. Thescrew 1040 may be manually or automatically manipulated, depending onthe embodiment, in a manner similar to that described above in FIGS. 9Aand 9B using the temperature sensor and the actuator.

In other embodiments, other mechanisms of controlling the orientation ofthe induction heating element 1000 may be used. For example, in someembodiments, instead of using the screw 1040, control of the inductionheating element 1000 may be effected through a bimetallic strip, throughan electronic arm in communication with a temperature (or other) sensor,etc. Furthermore, a combination of the mechanisms described above may beused within a single embodiment of the cooking vessel 1020.

Referring now to FIG. 11, yet another embodiment of a cooking vessel1100 is shown, in accordance with at least some embodiments of thepresent disclosure. Specifically, the cooking vessel 1100 is configuredas a cooking cage 1110 having a cooking bar 1120 upon which food 1130may be skewered or otherwise secured for cooking. While the cooking bar1120 has been shown as being secured or otherwise mounted to the sidewalls of the cooking cage 1110, in other embodiments, the cooking barmay assume other configurations. For example, in some embodiments, thecooking bar 1120 may extend upwardly or downwardly parallel orsubstantially parallel to the side walls of the cooking cage 1110.Likewise, the cooking bar 1120 need not always be a straight bar. Thecooking bar 1120 may be curved, spiral, or assume other shapes and sizesto accommodate varying types of food items. In at least someembodiments, the cooking cage 1110 may be provided with a variety ofcombinations and configurations of cooking bars such that an appropriateone of the cooking bar 1120 may be used within the cooking cagedepending upon the food that is to be cooked.

Additionally, the cooking bar 1120 may be stationary, or it may rotate,depending on the embodiment. In alternative embodiments, the cooking bar1120 may be suspended in the cooking cage 1110 in a variety of ways,such as via hooks mounted to the cooking cage. Furthermore, in at leastsome embodiments, the walls of the cooking cage 1110 may be designed toexpand and contract, either manually or electrically. In suchembodiments, the walls of the cooking cage 1110 may be formed into anaccordion shape that may be easily compressed to reduce the size of thecooking cage, or expanded to increase the size of the cooking cage.Alternatively, the cooking cage 1110 may have walls which slidehorizontally into each other to further increase the flexibility of thecooking vessel 1100. With expandable or contractable configurations ofthe cooking cage 1110, the cooking bar 1120 may be configured to expandor contract as well. The cooking bar 1120 may be made to expand orcontract in any of a variety of ways. For example, the cooking bar 1120may be configured as portions of rods that slide within one another tovary the length thereof or the cooking bar may be made as an accordionstructure itself, so it may be stretched or compressed as desired. Othermechanisms of varying the length of the cooking bar 1120 may be used inother embodiments.

Furthermore, in at least some embodiments, in addition to or instead ofthe cooking bar 1120, the food 1130 may be supported by a ferrous ornon-ferrous food tray (not shown), depending on the amount of desiredheat. Liquids may also be cooked in this way using the cooking cage1110, and the cooking cage may be configured such that the liquid isheated from any desired direction. Foods and liquids may also be cookedtogether, and in some embodiments the food may be held in a non-ferrouscontainer inside the cooking cage 1110 or in a heat resistant bag thatmay be flexible.

The cooking cage 1110 also includes upper ferrous strips 1140 secured orotherwise attached to an upper portion of the cooking cage. The upperferrous strips 1140 are configured to generate heat and heat the food1130 from the top. In addition to the upper ferrous strips 1140, in atleast some embodiments, the cooking cage 1110 also includes lowerferrous strips 1150 that are secured or otherwise attached to a bottomportion of the cooking cage for generating heat to heat the food 1130from the bottom. The upper ferrous strips 1140 and the lower ferrousstrips 1150 generate heat by virtue of receiving electromagneticradiation from an electromagnetic radiation source 1160. In addition,the upper and lower ferrous strips are not homologous (i.e., the top andbottom strips do not line up with one another exactly). If the top andbottom strips were lined up exactly on top of one another, theelectromagnetic radiation would be absorbed by the lower strips andwould not reach the upper strips.

Similar to the cooking bar 1120, the upper ferrous strips 1140 and thelower ferrous strips 1150 may assume various different configurations.For example, the shape, size, thickness, angle, and orientation of eachof the upper ferrous strips 1140 and each of the lower ferrous strips1150 may vary from one embodiment to another, depending particularlyupon the heating profile that is desired. Additionally, while in thepresent embodiment only two of the upper ferrous strips 1140 and two ofthe lower ferrous strips 1150 have been shown, this is merely exemplary.In other embodiments, more or less than two ferrous strips may be usedin both the upper ferrous strips 1140 and the lower ferrous strips 1150.Furthermore, in at least some embodiments, additional ferrous strips maybe provided on the side walls of the cooking cage 1110. The walls of thecooking cage 1110 are non-ferrous in at least some embodiments. Thewalls of the cooking cage 1110 may also include slots, brackets, etc. tohold the additional ferrous strips such that the food 1130 may be heatedfrom the side.

Additionally, extendable heating elements (e.g., such as those describedin FIGS. 1A and 1B above) may be provided within the cooking cage 1110and/or a mobile induction heating element (such as those described inFIGS. 9A/9B and 10A/10B above) may be used. Moreover, in at least someembodiments, only either the upper ferrous strips 1140 or the lowerferrous strips 1150 may be used. Furthermore, in at least someembodiments, the upper ferrous strips 1140 and the lower ferrous strips1150 may include a non-ferrous (or non-metallic) side that faces awayfrom the food 1130, and a ferrous side that faces the food. In such anembodiment, the non-ferrous side may be clad with a heat resistantmaterial. One or both of the upper ferrous strips 1140 and the lowerferrous strips 1150 may also include a non-ferrous lip, grip,protrusion, etc. such that the ferrous strips may be better handled whenhot. Thus, a variety of configurations of the ferrous strips arecontemplated and considered within the scope of the present disclosure.Additional handles to lift or move the cooking cage 1110 may be used aswell in some embodiments.

In at least some embodiments, the cooking cage 1110 may be provided withcooking covers such as those described in FIGS. 1A-6 above. Thesecooking covers may be in addition to or instead of the upper ferrousstrips 1140 and/or the lower ferrous strips 1150.

Furthermore, in at least some embodiments, the upper ferrous strips 1140and the lower ferrous strips 1150 may be separated from one another by anon-ferrous material 1170. For example, in at least some embodiments inwhich the non-ferrous material 1170 is used, the non-ferrous material isplaced between the upper ferrous strips 1140 such that the cooking cage1110 has a solid top surface. Similarly, the non-ferrous material 1170is placed between the lower ferrous strips 1150 such that the cookingcage 1110 has a solid bottom surface. In alternative embodiments, thetop and/or bottom of the cooking cage 1110 may be at least partiallyopen.

As discussed above, in embodiments in which a cage structure is used,the upper ferrous strips 1140 are offset (i.e., not directly on top of)relative to the lower ferrous strips 1150. By virtue of offsetting theupper ferrous strips 1140 from the lower ferrous strips 1150,electromagnetic radiation from the electromagnetic radiation source 1160may pass in between the lower ferrous strips and make contact with theupper ferrous strips, thereby making the heating of the upper ferrousstrips more effective.

Additionally, in one embodiment, the bottom of the cooking cage 1110 hasa frame into which the lower ferrous strips 1150 any non-ferrousmaterial 1170 are placed or secured. As discussed above, the non-ferrousmaterial 1170 between the lower ferrous strips 1150 allowselectromagnetic radiation to pass right through to the upper ferrousstrips 1140 that are placed directly above the lower non-ferrousmaterial and thereby offset from the lower ferrous strips. The upperferrous strips 1140 may also be mounted in a frame at the top of thecooking cage 1110. Thus, by providing the upper ferrous strips 1140, thelower ferrous strips 1150, and the cooking bar 1120, the food 1130 maybe effectively and quickly cooked within the cooking cage 1110.

Turning now to FIG. 12, an induction cooking system 1200 is shown, inaccordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.Specifically, the induction cooking system 1200 includes a non-ferrouscooking vessel 1210 having an automated placement of one or moreinduction heating elements 1220. The cooking vessel 1210 may be madepartially or entirely from a non-ferrous material. In at least someembodiments, the induction heating elements 1220 are selectivelyinserted into the cooking system 1200 to provide more heat. Theinduction heating elements 1220 may be manually or automaticallyinserted into a slot 1230 in the wall of the cooking vessel 1210. In anembodiment in which the induction heating elements 1220 areautomatically inserted, a temperature sensor (not shown) may be used inconjunction with an, also not shown, automatically controlled arm (orother actuator) that inserts/removes the induction heating elementsbased on a sensed temperature within the cooking system 1200.

For example, when inserted into the wall of the cooking vessel 1210, theinduction heating elements 1220 may absorb electromagnetic radiationfrom an electromagnetic radiation source 1240 to increase a temperatureof the cooking vessel based on a temperature reading that is below adesired value. Similarly, the induction heating elements 1220 may beremoved from the cooking vessel 1210 to maintain a desired temperatureor reduce the temperature if the temperature gets too high.

Notwithstanding the fact that in the present embodiment, a single one ofthe induction heating elements 1220 inserted into a single one of theslot 1230 has been shown, this is merely exemplary. Rather, in otherembodiments, multiple smaller ones of the induction heating elements1220 may be inserted into the slot 1230. Similarly, multiple numbers ofthe slot 1230 may be used in some embodiments, with each of the slotshaving one or more of the induction heating elements 1220. Likewise, thesize, shape, angle, and orientation of the induction heating elements1220 and the slot 1230 may vary in some embodiments as well. Also, whilethe slot 1230 and the induction heating elements 1220 have been shown ononly one wall of the cooking vessel 1210, in at least some embodiments,slots and induction heating elements may be provided on multiple wallsof the cooking vessel. Additionally, when multiple numbers of the slot1230 holding multiple numbers of the induction heating elements 1220 areused, the size, shape, angle, and orientation of each of the inductionheating element may vary to achieve the desired heating profile.Furthermore, in such cases, the insertion and removal of the inductionheating elements 1220 may be either manual, automatic, or a combinationof both. In some embodiments, additional heating elements and handles(such as those discussed in FIGS. 1A-1B) may be provided as well.

Thus, using the embodiments described herein, it is, again, apparentthat a metal cooking vessel (e.g., ferrous cooking vessel) is no longernecessary to take advantage of induction cooking. Rather, non-ferrouscontainers and cooking vessels having automated and/or manual mobilityaspects allow for much greater flexibility and control in inductioncooking. Opening and closing of induction elements in the top or base ofa container also allow for adding ingredients, placing ferrous and/ornon-ferrous sections aside, etc. In addition, heating and thensimmering, and other combinations, for example, become possible in thesame container (i.e., while multiple containers are being heating via asingle electromagnetic radiation source) without the need for multipletime-consuming transfers from one pot to another. Additionally, stirringwhile heating may become a simple automatic process since thenon-ferrous container is more amenable to the addition of electricallycontrolled devices.

The embodiments described herein make possible targeted heating andcooking in a variety of circumstances outside of conventional foodpreparation. For example, a commercial food manufacturer may have a foodproduct that consists of two or more distinct types of food, one or moreof which are to be cooked and one or more of which are not to be cooked.Instead of preparing the foods separately and then packaging them in amulti-step process, the embodiments described herein make it possible toplace ingredients/food into separate sections of a non-ferrous package,with the ingredients/food to be cooked in a compartment (orcompartments) having a readily removable ferrous element attachedthereto. Passing the package over an electromagnetic radiation sourceresults in cooking of the desired food component(s), and not cooking theother food product(s). An assembly line of such packages may result insignificant savings for the food manufacturer.

Turning now to FIG. 13, a multi-chamber cooking package 1300 is shown,in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.In at least some embodiments, the multi-chamber cooking package 1300includes a first chamber 1310 that includes food which is not to becooked, and a second chamber 1320 that includes food which is to becooked. It is to be understood that although the multi-chamber cookingpackage 1300 has been shown as having only two chambers (e.g., the firstchamber 1310 and the second chamber 1320), in other embodiments, thenumber of chambers may vary. Depending upon the number of chambersdesired, the multi-chamber cooking package may have only a singlechamber or possibly even greater than two chambers. Further, the shapeand size of each chamber within the multi-chamber cooking package 1300may vary from one embodiment to another. Likewise, the overall shape andsize of the multi-chamber cooking package 1300 may vary as well.

For facilitating the cooking of food in the second chamber 1320, thesecond chamber includes an induction heating element 1330 attached orotherwise mounted thereto. In at least some embodiments, the inductionheating element 1330 is detachable from the second chamber 1320 afterthe contents of the second chamber have been cooked. Notwithstanding thefact that in the present embodiment, a single one of the inductionheating element 1330 has been shown attached/mounted to the secondchamber 1320, in other embodiments, more than one of the inductionheating elements may be provided on one or more walls of the secondchamber. Furthermore, the shape, size, angle, and orientation of theinduction heating element 1330 may vary from one embodiment to another.Also, while the induction heating element 1330 has been shown as beingattached/mounted to an outer surface of the wall of the second chamber1320, in some embodiments, the induction heating element may be mountedto an inner surface of the wall of the second chamber.

Moreover, in at least some embodiments, an induction heating element maybe provided on the first chamber 1310 as well when the first chamberincludes contents that are to be cooked. The shape, size, orientation,number, angle, and area of attaching/mounting the induction heatingelement on the first chamber 1310 may vary from one embodiment toanother.

By virtue of providing the induction heating element 1330 on the secondchamber 1320, as the multi-chamber cooking package 1300 travels down aconveyor belt 1340 of an assembly line 1350, the multi-chamber cookingpackage may be made to pass over (or under, or by) an electromagneticradiation source 1360 that heats the induction heating element 1330,thereby cooking the contents of the second chamber 1320. In alternativeembodiments, multiple electromagnetic radiation sources may be used at anumber of different locations and orientations on the conveyor belt 1340relative to the multi-chamber cooking package 1300 to achieve a desiredheating profile. The electromagnetic radiation source 1360 may itself bemobile or stationary. Thus, in some embodiments, the multi-chambercooking package 1300 may be positioned in at least some embodiments,stationary position, while the electromagnetic radiation source 1360 maymove relative to the multi-chamber cooking package to cook contentswithin the multi-chamber cooking package.

The multi-chamber cooking package of FIG. 13 may be extended virtuallyin any manufacturing process (both cooking and non-cooking applications)in which heat is to be applied in a targeted manner. For example, FIG.14 depicts a system 1400 for sealing a parcel 1410 using inductionheating, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The parcel 1410 can be a package, container, or otherreceptacle. In at least some embodiments, the parcel 1410 is not made ofa ferrous material. Rather, the parcel 1410 includes a seam 1420 (oropening) that is to be sealed by a heat activated adhesive or plasticplaced on the seam.

To seal the parcel 1410 using induction heating, an induction heatingelement 1430 is placed on the seam 1420 and particularly, over the heatactivated adhesive or plastic on the seam. As the parcel 1410 movesalong a conveyor belt 1440 of an assembly line 1450, the parcel passesthrough (e.g., over, under, or by) an electromagnetic radiation source1460, which causes the induction heating element 1430 to heat up andmelt/activate the heat activated adhesive or plastic on the seam 1420,thereby sealing the seam of the parcel.

As the parcel 1410 moves further down the conveyor belt 1440, the heatactivated adhesive or plastic cools and hardens forming a permanent sealover the seam 1420. In at least some embodiments, the induction heatingelement 1430 may be removed from the seam 1420 to be re-used, or lefton, depending on the implementation.

Notwithstanding the embodiment of the parcel 1410 shown in FIG. 14above, many variations to the parcel are contemplated and consideredwithin the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the shape andsize of the parcel 1410 may vary. Likewise, the orientation of passingthe parcel 1410 on the conveyor belt 1440 may vary. For example, whilethe present embodiment shows the parcel 1410 moving on the conveyor belt1440 with the seam 1420 facing upward away from the conveyor belt, inother embodiments, the seam 1420 may be facing in other directions,including facing towards the conveyor belt. Also, the shape, size, andthickness of the seam 1420 may vary from one embodiment to another.Additionally, multiple numbers of the seam 1420, with each of the seamshaving an induction heating element thereon to seal the parcel 1410 maybe used in other embodiments. Intentional gaps (e.g., for venting) maybe left within the seam 1420 by strategically placing the inductionheating element 1430 on the seam. Also, similar to FIG. 13, theelectromagnetic radiation source 1460 may be stationary or mobile. It isto be understood that all items to be joined and sealed are non-ferrousin nature such that the electromagnetic radiation does not heat them aswell.

The embodiments of FIGS. 13 and 14 may also be extended to an objectthat is to be glued/adhered in a particular spot with another object, orto any assembly line involving a spot or sector to be heated in atargeted manner. The processes may be used to adhere/connect both smalland large objects. For example, a first body may need to be permanentlyadhered to a second body. Traditionally, such an operation would havebeen done by hand, with the first body lifted up, an adhesive, etc.applied to the first body, and first and second bodies brought intocontact with one another to be secured. Nowadays, such an operation maybe carried out by a number of complicated and expensive roboticmachines. Even using modern machines, the first body must be lifted and,after the adhering/affixing operation takes place, replaced. In somecircumstances, movement of the first body relative to the second bodymay be harmful to the contents and/or composition of the first body.Using the embodiments described herein, an induction heating element maybe placed at an interface between the first body and the second body toenable the adhering/affixing process to take place in a predictable,controlled manner. Such a process is less costly than traditionalmethods and results in less disturbance to the first body, which is toaffixed to the second body. The adhering process may be the result ofusing induction heat for fusing plastic surfaces to one another,activating a dry glue placed between the two surfaces, melting a solderbetween the two surfaces, etc. One such embodiment is described in FIG.15 below.

Turning now to FIG. 15, a system 1500 for assembling components of aproduct 1510 using induction heating is shown, in accordance with atleast some embodiments of the present disclosure. The product 1510includes a first body 1520 that is to be attached to a second body 1530.An induction heating element (not visible) is placed at the interfacebetween the first body 1520 and the second body 1530. Specifically, insome embodiments, the induction heating element is placed to cover onlya portion of the interface, and the remainder of the interface iscovered by an adhesive or other material such as glue, plastic, solder,etc. to facilitate the attachment of the first body 1520 to the secondbody 1530 at the interface. In other embodiments, the induction heatingelement is placed to cover substantially all of the interface betweenthe first body 1520 and the second body 1530. The portion of theinterface that is covered by the induction heating element may bedependent upon the shape, size, number, angle, and orientation of theinduction heating element, as well as the shape and size of the firstbody 1520 and the second body 1530, and the type ofadhesive/solder/plastic used in the interface to attach the first bodyto the second body.

By virtue of using the induction heating element, the first body 1520may be attached to the second body 1530 using induction heat.Specifically, the product 1510 is moved down a conveyor belt 1540 of anassembly line 1550 and as the product passes through (e.g., over, under,or by) an electromagnetic radiation source 1560, the electromagneticradiation source heats up the induction heating element. The heatedinduction heating element in turn melts/heats the adhesive or othermaterial at the interface of the first body 1520 and the second body1530 such that the first body is attached to the second body.

Again and as discussed in FIG. 14 above, variations to the product 1510,the first body 1520, the second body 1530, the conveyor belt 1540, andthe induction heating element are contemplated and considered within thescope of the present disclosure. For example, the conveyor belt 1540 maybe linear or non-linear (e.g., curved or circular), depending on theimplementation. Furthermore, while the present disclosure has beendescribed as having the first body 1520 and the second body 1530, inother embodiments, more than two components of the product 1510 may beattached using the disclosure herein. Furthermore, the embodiments ofFIG. 15 may be extended to a multiplicity of affixing/adheringoperations, to processes involving human and/or robotic actions, todifferent methods of controlling the movements, at a variety of speeds,etc.

Often it is necessary to add heat a glue joint to disassemble an object.The embodiments may also be used to sever connections between bodies inalternative embodiments. For example, two items held together by solderor glue can be separated by placing an induction element at the jointand training an electromagnetic source on the element. Such a process ismuch safer than a flame. Also, the electromagnetic radiation source 1560may be mobile or stationary. For example, in one embodiment, theelectromagnetic radiation source can be a handheld battery powered unit.As noted above, use of a flame is dangerous and can damage the objectbeing disassembled. In practice, a ferrous heating element is placedadjacent to the joint or encompassing the joint. Placing the radiationsource proximate to the joint will help to ensure that only the joint isheated. Should there be ferrous metal near the joint, the process can bemodified to avoid heating the nearby ferrous metal. Specifically, a longferrous heating element can be used, with one end of the long ferrousheating element touching or encompassing the joint and the other end ofthe long ferrous heating element proximate to the radiation source. Insuch an implementation, the radiation source is more distant from thejoint and the radiation can be targeted to heat the far end of theheating element. The remainder of the heating element (including theportion in contact with the joint) will heat via conduction such thatthe joint be heated for disassembly. In general, the above approachescan be used whenever something has to be melted.

Referring now to FIG. 16, another implementation of an affixingoperation is shown, in accordance with at least some embodiments of thepresent disclosure. Specifically, the affixing operation of FIG. 16includes a sheet of carbon fiber material to which a device made of hardplastic is to be affixed. Ferrous metal screws (or other fasteners) areplaced into prepared holes/openings, and the product is passed by anelectromagnetic radiation source that expands the screw, melts theplastic and carbon fiber, and creates a permanent interlocking interfacebetween the carbon fiber material and the device. These concepts may beextended to implementations in which the product is on a conveyor belt,in which the product is stationary and the electromagnetic radiationsource passes over, under, or by the product either manually orautomatically, where the electromagnetic radiation source and/or theproduct are moved in accordance with a control program, etc. In anotherembodiment, the affixing operations can be used in the building industryin situations where one surface is to be affixed to another surface. Forexample, small heating elements can be placed together with heatactivated adhesives or adhesives enclosed in readily melted capsules.When the two surfaces are in place, passing an electromagnetic sourcenearby will activate the adhesive and affix the surfaces. In oneimplementation, the radiation source can be attached to a drone whichcan easily traverse the area in a readily controlled manner.

Thus, FIG. 16 depicts another system 1600 of assembling components of aproduct 1610 using induction heat, in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present disclosure. The product 1610, in at leastsome embodiments, includes a carbon fiber component 1620 and a plasticcomponent 1630 to be attached to the carbon fiber component. The shape,size, and orientation of one or both of the carbon fiber component 1620and the plastic component 1630 may vary from one embodiment to another.Screws 1640 are placed into aligned holes 1650 in both the carbon fibercomponent 1620 and the plastic component 1630. Alternatively, othertypes of fasteners, rods, etc. other than the screws 1640 may be used.Further, the location, and orientation of the screws 1640 and thecorresponding holes 1650 may vary from one embodiment to anotherdepending upon the type of assembling that is desired. Additionally,although two of the screws 1640 are illustrated in FIG. 16, it should beunderstood that additional or fewer screws may be used in alternativeembodiments.

Notwithstanding the fact that in the present embodiment, the carbonfiber component 1620 is shown as being assembled to the plasticcomponent 1630, this is merely exemplary. Rather, in other embodiments,any type of components (of any type of non-ferrous material) that are tobe assembled together using screws or other type of fasteners capable ofbeing heated may benefit from the embodiments described herein.

Specifically, to assemble the carbon fiber component 1620 and theplastic component 1630 using the screws 1640, an electromagneticradiation source 1660 is used. In at least some embodiments, theelectromagnetic radiation source 1660 is positioned under the holes 1650causing the screws 1640 to heat up. As the screws 1640 heat up from theelectromagnetic radiation source 1660, the screws expand and melt aportion of the carbon fiber component 1620 and a portion of the plasticcomponent 1630 surrounding the screws. The melting of the carbon fibercomponent 1620 and the plastic component 1630 causes the plasticcomponent to be attached to both the screws 1640 and the carbon fibercomponent. The carbon fiber component 1620 is, likewise, attached to thescrews 1640 and the plastic component 1630, thereby assembling thecarbon fiber component and the plastic component together.

While the electromagnetic radiation source 1660 has been shown as beingpositioned under the carbon fiber component 1620 and specifically underthe holes 1650, the positioning of the electromagnetic radiation sourcemay vary in other embodiments. For example, the electromagneticradiation source 1660 may be positioned over, at the sides of, or at anangle relative to the holes 1650. Additionally, the electromagneticradiation source 1660 may be mobile or stationary (relative to theproduct 1610) depending on the embodiment and specifically, the heatprofile that is desired and the location/orientation of the screws 1640.The product 1610 may also be mobile or stationary relative to theelectromagnetic radiation source 1660. In at least some otherembodiments, one or more additional induction heating elements (i.e., inaddition to the screws 1640) may be used to assist in melting thematerials (e.g., the carbon fiber component 1620 and the plasticcomponent 1630) together. Further, although not shown, one or both ofthe product 1610 and the electromagnetic radiation source 1660 may bepositioned on a conveyor belt.

In addition to connecting or assembling components together, theembodiments described herein may also be used for food packaging.Specifically, the use of food packaging as an integral part of theheating/cooking process becomes possible using the embodiments describedherein. Referring specifically to FIGS. 17A and 17B, a food packagingsystem 1700 is shown, in accordance with at least some embodiments ofthe present disclosure. While the food packaging system 1700 is shown asa rectangular box in FIG. 17, it is to be understood that differentshapes, sizes, and configurations of food packaging are also envisioned.In at least some embodiments, the food packaging system 1700 includesbuilt in slots 1710 (FIG. 17A) into which induction heating elements1720 (FIG. 17B) are inserted. Specifically, the food packaging system1700 has the slots 1710 into which the induction heating elements 1720may be placed by a purchaser/user of the food packaging system 1700 toheat/cook the food therein. It is to be understood that although onlytwo of the slots 1710 are shown in FIG. 17A, additional or fewer slotsmay be used in other embodiments, with each of the slots being designedto receive one or more of the induction heating elements 1720. The slots1710 may also vary in size and/or shape.

The slots 1710 may be configured to receive a standard sized inductionheating element (e.g., the induction heating elements 1720) or otherpiece of ferrous metal such that the food may be heated/cooked right inthe package in which the food is purchased. As a result, the food may beconveniently cooked by placing the food packaging system 1700 on aninduction cooktop (or other electromagnetic radiation source). In atleast some embodiments, the food packaging system 1700 is made from anon-ferrous heat resistant material. In one embodiment, the foodpackaging system 1700 (as purchased) may include the induction heatingelements 1720 in or around the packaging system such that the user doesnot have to place the induction heating elements into the food packagingsystem. In another embodiment, through placement of the inductionheating elements 1720, only a portion of the food in the food packagingsystem 1700 is heated at a time, and the remaining food may be left inthe food packaging system and placed in the refrigerator until theremaining food is to be reheated. This may all be done without removingthe food from the food packaging system or needing to transfer to a potto cook the food in. In another embodiment, the food packaging system1700 itself may acts as a cooking vessel. For example, the foodpackaging system 1700 may include a dry food product which is to becooked in water. Water may be added to the food packaging system 1700and the food packaging system may be placed on an induction stove (orother electromagnetic radiation source) such that electromagneticradiation heats one or more induction heating elements in or around thefood packaging.

In at least some embodiments, the induction heating elements 1720 (andother induction heating elements described in this disclosure) mayinclude a non-ferrous portion that does not get directly heated as aresult of receiving electromagnetic radiation. The non-ferrous portionmay be used to handle/remove an induction heating element that is hot.The non-ferrous portion may be made of ceramic or another heat resistantmaterial, and may be in the form of a lip, an edge, a grip, a handle,etc. FIGS. 18A-18C depict exemplary induction heating elements havingnon-ferrous portions, in accordance with at least some embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

Specifically, FIG. 18A depicts an induction heating element 1800 havinga ferrous portion 1810 and a non-ferrous lip 1820 that may be used tohandle the induction heating element when the ferrous portion 1810 ishot. FIG. 18B depicts an induction heating element 1830 having a ferrousportion 1840 and a non-ferrous edge 1850 surrounding at least a portionof the ferrous portion such that the non-ferrous edge may be used tohandle the induction heating element when the ferrous portion is hot.FIG. 18C depicts an induction heating element 1860 having a ferrousportion 1870 and non-ferrous grips 1880 (only one of which is visible inFIG. 18C) that may be used to handle the induction heating element whenthe ferrous portion is hot. While only a single one of the non-ferrousgrips 1880 is visible in FIG. 18C, it is envisioned that the inductionheating element 1860 includes at least a second one of the gripsopposite the illustrated grip. In alternative embodiments, additionalnumber of the non-ferrous grips 1880 may be used.

It is to be understood that while the induction heating elements 1800,1830, and 1860 have been shown and described as having a certainconfiguration, this is merely exemplary. In other embodiments, theproportion of the ferrous portion relative to the non-ferrous portionmay vary in the induction heating elements. Likewise, the shape and sizeof the induction heating elements may vary from one embodiment toanother depending upon what is desired.

Additionally, the type of the non-ferrous portion (e.g., thenon-inductive lip 1820, the non-inductive edge 1850, and thenon-inductive grips 1880) may vary from one embodiment to another. Forexample, the induction heating element 1800 of FIG. 18A may beconfigured with the non-inductive edge 1850 in addition to or instead ofthe non-inductive lip 1820. Thus, more than one type of non-ferrousportions may be used in any embodiment of the induction heating element.Furthermore, only three types of the non-ferrous portions have beendescribed herein. Rather, in other embodiments, various otherconfigurations of the non-ferrous portions, such as handles, rims,notches, etc., are contemplated.

Turning now to FIGS. 19A-19D, circuit switches 1900 are shown, inaccordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. Aswill be described further below, the circuit switches 1900 are triggeredby an electromagnetic radiation source. Specifically, in at least someembodiments, a bimetallic strip is used to implement controls inconjunction with the electromagnetic radiation source.

To use the bimetallic strip to control the circuit switches 1900, in atleast some embodiments, at least a portion of the bimetallic strip isconfigured to bend in a predetermined direction in response to beingheating by the electromagnetic radiation source. Bending in thepredetermined direction may result in the bimetallic strip going from alinear state to a curved state, or from a curved state to a linearstate, depending on the implementation. Such bending of the bimetallicstrip may open/close an electrical circuit in response toapplication/removal of the electromagnetic radiation source heating thebimetallic strip (which heats up in the presence of this radiation) orremoving the source of heat. This will turn the circuit switches 1900 onor off as desired.

Furthermore, the electromagnetic radiation source may be remotelycontrolled such that the bending of the bimetallic switch may beremotely controlled and the switch (e.g., the circuit switches 1900) maybe turned on/off from a remote location. This adds flexibility to theability to control the flow of current in a circuit. The on/off featureenables the control of all fluid motion. The use of targetedelectromagnetic radiation (as opposed to relying solely on ambienttemperature to enact a change in the bimetallic strip) greatly expandsthe utility of such bimetallic strips and enables the use of smallerversions, while demonstrating the bending effect as a result oftemperature changes.

Thus, FIGS. 19A and 19B depict a first circuit 1910 having a bimetallicstrip 1920 that acts a switch for the first circuit. In the embodimentof FIG. 19A, the bimetallic strip 1920 is cool (or otherwise not heatedby an electromagnetic radiation source 1930 (see FIG. 19B)), resultingin the bimetallic strip having a linear (e.g., straight or non-curved)shape that results in the first circuit 1910 being closed or on (i.e.,current may flow through the first circuit 1910 because the bimetallicstrip 1920 completes the first circuit). In FIG. 19B, theelectromagnetic radiation source 1930 is used to apply electromagneticradiation to the bimetallic strip 1920. As a result, the bimetallicstrip 1920 becomes heated and temporarily assumes a non-linear (e.g.,curved) shape, which results in an open circuit such that current cannotflow through the first circuit 1910 (i.e., the first circuit is off).The electromagnetic radiation source 1930 may be remotely or locallycontrolled, depending on the implementation. Thus, by virtue of usinginduction heat to control the bending of the bimetallic strip 1920, thecircuit switch formed by the first circuit 1910 may be controlled.

FIGS. 19C and 19D depict a second circuit 1940 having a bimetallic strip1950 that acts a switch for the second circuit. In the embodiment ofFIG. 19C, the bimetallic strip 1950 is cool (or otherwise not heated byan electromagnetic radiation source 1960), resulting in the bimetallicstrip having a linear shape that results in the second circuit 1940being off (i.e., current does not flow through the second circuitbecause the position of the bimetallic strip results in an opencircuit). On the other hand, in FIG. 19D, the electromagnetic radiationsource 1960 is used to apply electromagnetic radiation to the bimetallicstrip 1950. As a result, the bimetallic strip 1950 gets heated up andassumes a non-linear shape which results in a closed circuit such thatcurrent flows through the second circuit 1940 (i.e., the circuit is on).The electromagnetic radiation source 1960 may be remotely or locallycontrolled, depending on the implementation, to remotely or locallycontrol the operation of the switch formed by the second circuit 1940.

Thus, the bimetallic strips 1920 and 1950 may be used to activate ordeactivate a switch. Although not discussed specifically, such a switchcircuit may, in addition to the bimetallic strip, also includeresistors, capacitors, battery sources, etc. Other electricalcomponents, although not shown or discussed, may be provided in thecircuit switches 1900 in other embodiments.

The targeted heating of a ferrous metal via induction heating may alsobe used to form a detector device. For example, in one embodiment, apackage may claim to only include food or edible material. A detectionsystem may be used to check the package for ferrous material that isbeing smuggled in the package or that otherwise inadvertently made itsway into the package. If the package is placed near an electromagneticradiation source, the package increases in temperature, therebyproviding an indication that the package includes ferrous material. Theincrease in temperature may be detected directly by placing atemperature sensor on or near the package, or indirectly based onemitted infrared radiation from the package. Such a method may eliminatethe use of an X-ray detector (and its associated harmful rays) in atleast some detection scenarios.

To that end, FIG. 20 depicts a detection system 2000, in accordance withat least some embodiments of the present disclosure. The detectionsystem 2000 includes an electromagnetic radiation source 2010 that isconfigured to emit radiation toward a package 2020. The package 2020 maybe moving on a conveyor belt or may be stationary, depending on theimplementation. Upon application of the electromagnetic radiation fromthe electromagnetic radiation source 2010, a piece of ferrous material2030 inside the package 2020 generates heat, causing the package toincrease in temperature and generate infrared radiation. A sensor, notshown, may be used to detect the increase in temperature and/or theinfrared radiation. Upon detection of the heat/infrared radiation and,assuming that the package 2020 is not supposed to contain any ferrousmaterial, the detection system 2000 may generate a warning or alert toinform a user (e.g., inspector) that the package contains a piece offerrous material (e.g., the ferrous material 2030) and may need furtherinspection.

Targeted induction heating may also be used to heat certain laboratoryequipment used in experiments. Chemists, students, laboratorytechnicians, etc. often carry out experiments that require one or morecontents of a test tube, flask, or other laboratory equipment to beheated. The contents of such equipment are traditionally heated by thechemist, student, lab technician, etc. holding the equipment over aBunsen burner or other open flame. Use of such an open flame isdangerous, and may result in burns and/or unintentional fires. Toimprove safety, an induction heating element may be attached to orincorporated into the laboratory equipment.

For example, in one embodiment, an induction heating element may beimplanted into the glass of the test tube, flask, or other laboratoryequipment during production. Upon application of electromagneticradiation, the implanted induction heating element heats the contents ofthe test tube, flask, or the other laboratory equipment safely withoutthe need of a dangerous open flame.

Thus, FIG. 21 depicts a test tube 2100 with an induction heating element2110, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. An electromagnetic radiation source 2120 generateselectromagnetic radiation, which heats the induction heating element2110 of the test tube 2100, thereby heating the contents of the testtube. The induction heating element 2110 may be attached to a surface ofthe test tube 2100 (i.e., post production), or incorporated into thetest tube during production. While the embodiment of FIG. 21 illustratesthe induction heating element 2110 on only an end portion of the testtube 2100, it is to be understood that the induction heating element2110 may cover more (including the entire test tube) or less of the testtube, depending on the desired amount of heat desired. In oneembodiment, a user may attach a desired number of induction heatingelements to the test tube 2100 depending on a desired temperature towhich the contents are to be heated.

Also, while FIG. 21 only shows the application of a test tube, otherlaboratory equipment that are to be heated are contemplated andconsidered within the scope of the present disclosure. For example,flasks, beakers, crucibles, cylinders, evaporating dishes, bottles,jars, etc. may benefit from the embodiments described herein.

Targeted induction heating may be used in a variety of other embodimentsas well. Some of those embodiments are described below. For example, anarrow, targeted beam of electromagnetic radiation may also be used incolder climates to warm a car battery or other portion of a vehicle tofacilitate easier starting of the vehicle. Specifically, a targetedelectromagnetic radiation source may be placed proximate to a ferrousmaterial positioned adjacent to the car battery. By emittingelectromagnetic radiation, the electromagnetic radiation source maycause the ferrous material to heat up, thereby warming the battery andallowing the vehicle to start. In at least some embodiments, theelectromagnetic radiation source may be powered from a wall outlet orother power source remote from the vehicle. Alternatively, theelectromagnetic radiation source may be powered by the car batteryitself or by a secondary battery associated with the electromagneticradiation source.

Another application of targeted induction heating may involveverification of the authenticity of an item, such as of anenclosed/sealed package/item (e.g., a pill bottle), to help combatfraudulent reproduction and copying. For example, to authenticate anenclosed item, a detection unit may be incorporated into the encloseditem. In at least some embodiments, the detection unit may beincorporated into a small, sealed chamber of the enclosed item. Thedetection unit may itself be a sealed unit having a dye, paint, stain,ink, or other marking material therein. The marking material may vary incolor and consistency. The walls of the detection unit may be made ofplastic and ferrous elements may be incorporated inside the plasticwalls along with the marking material. Alternatively, at least a portionof the detection unit walls may be made from ferrous materials.

When the enclosed item is exposed to electromagnetic radiation from anelectromagnetic radiation source, the ferrous materials in the detectionunit heats up and melts the plastic portion(s) of the walls of thedetection unit, releasing the marking material. The small, sealedchamber that forms part of the enclosed item and that contains thedetection unit may be placed in an innocuous place within the encloseditem. The small, sealed chamber may also include a small viewing windowsuch that an end user or the authorities are able to view the markingmaterial when it is released in response to electromagnetic radiation,thereby verifying the authenticity of the enclosed item without havingto break/tamper/specifically inspect the enclosed item. The viewingwindow may form at least a portion of an exterior wall of the encloseditem, in at least some embodiments.

Thus, an end user or authorities may activate the detection unit withelectromagnetic radiation to verify the authenticity of the encloseditem without having to open the enclosed item. Specifically, a replicaor knock off of the enclosed item is likely not to include the small,sealed chamber or the detection unit which includes the ferrous materialand marking material that is to be released upon exposure toelectromagnetic radiation. The location of the detection unit and/orcolor of the marking material will be provided from the manufacturer tothe end user, such that the user knows where to look for the markingmaterial and what color the marking material should be. If the markingmaterial appears in the correct location and is the correct color, theuser may be confident that the enclosed item is authentic, beforeopening the enclosed item.

Such an authenticating system may be used to combat the proliferation ofcounterfeit drugs. Any duplicate packaging may appear the same on theoutside, but is likely not to have the embedded detection unit whichreleases the marking material. In one embodiment, the detection unit maybe configured such that the opening of the enclosed item triggers therelease of the marking material. For example, the detection unit holdingthe marking material may include a detachable lid that is connected (bya wire, etc.) to a lid of the enclosed item such that the lid of thedetection unit is opened when the lid of the enclosed item is opened,thereby releasing the marking material. Thus, if the end user receivesthe enclosed item with the marking material already visible, the enduser may be alerted that the enclosed item may have been tampered with.

These embodiments provide advantages over the use of conventionalauthenticity messages, which are visible only under ultraviolet (UV)light. Use of light activated messages to show authenticity is subjectto unauthorized inspection by third parties without alerting the enduser that the inspection was performed. In the disclosed embodiments,inspection via electromagnetic radiation by a third party is apparent tothe end user because the marking material has become visible by anunauthorized inspection prior to the enclosed item being received by theend user. The embedded detection unit may also be used foridentification, selection, and detection purposes, in addition toprotecting against tampering and counterfeiting as discussed above. Theembedded detection unit may be of a variety of shapes and sizes, andmultiple embedded detection units may be used simultaneously in a singleenclosed item. In addition, the walls of the detection unit may beformed from meltable materials other than plastic.

The embodiments described herein have a multitude of applications whichimprove both safety and convenience. The ability to heat objects withouta flame decreases the likelihood of a fire and burns. The ability tospecifically and effortlessly place heating elements in anylocation/orientation relative to food improves user convenience andcooking options. With recent advances in battery and other energy sourcetechnology, an induction cooktop or heating system may be made portable.Additionally, the embodiments described herein no longer require a userto heat a metal pot to heat contents of the pot. Rather, electromagneticenergy may be directed to one or more induction heating elements, whichin turn act as the heat source for heating the contents of the pot.

Small, localized induction heating systems may be placed in hotel rooms,in workplace lunch rooms, in college dormitories, in parks, at restareas, on hiking trails, in campgrounds, etc. Induction heating systemsmay also be plug in units and/or include batteries or other portablepower sources, depending on the embodiment. The induction heatingsystems may be free of charge or pay to use units. Travelers, hikers,etc. may use the portable induction heating systems without the need tohave a pot or other cooking container. Rather, the user may have (or beprovided with) one or more induction heating elements that may be usedto heat food in any number of containers. Turning on the electromagneticradiation source of the induction heating system allows the food to cookwithout the risk of contamination from food of other users, as mayhappen, for example, when using a microwave oven. Microwave ovens alsorequire cleaning and removal of food residue from previous users, andsuch maintenance is avoided with the user of the induction heatingsystems described herein. There is also low or no risk of fire whenusing a small, localized induction heating system.

Hospitals and other healthcare facilities may also use small, localizedinduction heating systems to warm up foods in a targeted and/ordifferential manner for the convenience of patients and staff. Catererswho are out on the road will similarly find convenience in the use ofsmall, localized induction heating systems. Large quantities of food maybe brought to a catered event, and a number of small induction heatingsystems may be used to carry out all of the heating operations needed toprepare and maintain a heated meal, with much less effort and a greatdeal more safety than in traditional preparation methods.

An induction heating system may also be added to a vehicle, such as acar, semi, truck, boat, all-terrain vehicle, etc. The engine and/orbattery of the vehicle may act as a power source for the electromagneticradiation source and the induction heating system may be used forcooking during outdoors events such as a tailgate party, picnic, etc.Additionally, the induction heating source may be used to generate heatin the vehicle for use in colder climates. This allows cooking and/orheating to be performed without the use of flames and dangerous fuelssuch as propane, lighter fluid, gasoline, etc.

The systems described herein may also be used in cold environments toheat articles of clothing. For example, an article of clothing mayinclude ferric threads in at least a portion of the fabric. A layer offerrous material can also be placed on one or more layers of non-ferrousmaterial to form the cloth, or the cloth can be impregnated with ferrousparticles (including ferrous nanoparticles). The ferrous particles canalso be placed in paint, which can be applied to the cloth. Clothing canbe formed from the cloth using standard procedures. Upon receipt ofelectromagnetic radiation, the ferric threads may generate heat, whichis transferred to the wearer of the article of clothing. In alternativeembodiments, induction heating elements other than ferric thread, suchas ferric plates, ferric buttons, ferric fashion accessories, etc. maybe incorporated on or into clothing to provide heat to the user. Thisallows the individual to not rely as much on dangerous space heaters,bonfires, etc. to stay warm. The electromagnetic radiation used to heatthe induction clothing may come from a stationary source. Alternatively,as one example, vehicles may include electromagnetic sources that mayactivate the induction clothing from a distance as the vehicle passes bya wearer of the induction clothing. For example, construction workers,traffic officers, etc. may be able to heat themselves by utilizingelectromagnetic radiation from passing vehicles. Similarly, suchelectromagnetic sources may be placed along sidewalks, trails, etc. suchthat passersby may be heated as they pass.

The systems described herein may also be used for cooking and/or heatingduring camping. For example, an induction heating source in conjunctionwith induction heating elements in a tent or other enclosing sleepingspace is much safer that the use of gases such as propane, which mayresult in oxygen depletion and death. Thus, this may be applied to fielduse for both military personnel and civilians.

The systems described herein also provide for safer remote preparationof food. For example, a user may set a timer to have an induction hotplate begin heating inductive elements (which in turn heat food) whilethe user is on his/her way home from work. This process is safer thanusing electric cooktop, crock pot, or other electrical apparatus thatmay cause a fire when the user is not present. In one embodiment, a heator temperature sensor may be incorporated into or placed near one ormore of the induction heating elements. If the temperature sensordetermines that the temperature exceeds a safe operating thresholdtemperature, the sensor may send a signal to cause the electromagneticradiation source to shut down, thereby cooling the temperature of theheating element and reducing the risk of fire.

The systems described herein may also be used with robotic features forremote cooking or other applications using the robotic features. Forexample, a robotic arm may be incorporated into or near a refrigerator.The robotic arm may be configured to automatically take a container offood from the refrigerator (at a predetermined time) and place the foodcontainer near an induction heating system such that the food is heated.The robotic arm may also be configured to place induction heatingelements into the food container. Alternatively, the food container maycome with the induction heating elements already therein, or the usermay place the induction heating elements in the food container inadvance. As such, the food may remain cold for most of the day, but maybe heated while the user is on his/her way home such the user comes hometo a heated meal.

In one embodiment, the induction cooking system may be incorporated intoan insulated portion of the refrigerator, and the robotic arm may movethe food from a cold storage portion of the refrigerator into theinsulated portion of the refrigerator at a predetermined time. Therobotic arm (or other associated computing system) may then activate anelectromagnetic radiation source such that the food in the insulatedportion of the refrigerator is heated, allowing the user to come home toa hot meal that is already prepared. Again, the robotic arm may positioninduction heating elements in or around the food container and/or theinsulated portion of the refrigerator. Alternatively, the inductionheating elements may be placed by the user.

In another embodiment, a spoon or other utensil fashioned out of ferrousmetal can serve as the heating element. A non-ferrous food container ofappropriate size is placed adjacent to or on top of the electromagneticsource. When the spoon is placed in the container and the radiationsource turned on, the metal of the spoon heats up, thereby causing thefood in the container to heat up. In one configuration, the handle ofthe spoon is made of non-ferrous material such as wood, plastic, orceramic such that the handle can be held without being burned. Thisconcept is readily extended to other utensils of various sizes. Inalternative embodiments, the utensil can be made entirely of metal whichwill heat up in the presence of the electromagnetic radiation. Inanother alternative embodiment, the utensil can be made from sections offerrous metal in a substrate of non-ferrous material, or any othercombination.

In another embodiment, a ferrous heating element can be placed in thewall of a non-ferrous food container such that at least a portion of theferrous heating element is external to the food container and at least aportion of the ferrous heating element is internal to the foodcontainer. Placing the radiation source outside of the container willresult in the exterior portion of the heating element quickly heatingup, thereby heating the interior portion of the heating element viaconduction such that the contents of the food container are heated. Anynumber of such heating elements can be used, in different areas of thecontainer, and the heating elements can be of different sizes. Theheating elements can be permanently mounted to the food container in oneimplementation. Alternatively, the heating elements can be adjustablesuch that the amount of the heating element which is internal/externalto the food container can be altered by sliding the heating elementfurther into (or out of) the food container. The heating elements mayalso be entirely removable from the food container. In such anembodiment, a plug component can be used to fill the hole which waspreviously occupied by a removed heating element.

In current practice, following the path of physical/chemical processesin a living animal or plant (such as blood or other fluid flow) isdifficult and often involves the use of radioactive tracers, fluorescentmolecules, etc. In another embodiment, dietary or other iron may beinjected into the blood stream or other fluid path of a living entityand, upon being subject to electromagnetic radiation, the injected irongenerates a safe level of heat. One or more heat detectors may be placedon or near the subject to identify areas of the subject that are beingheated as a result of the injected iron. The one or more heat detectorsare associated with a processing device that receives indications ofdetected heat and tracks the progression or location of the injectediron in the subject based on the detected heat. As a result, ongoingprocesses in living things may be followed without the need forradioactive tracking systems that are in current use.

The induction systems described herein may also be used for internaldetection. For example, an induction technique may be used to detect thepresence of (ferrous) shrapnel in an injured soldier. Specifically,electromagnetic radiation may be targeted to an injury site and heatdetectors may be placed on/near the patient to determine whether thereis an increase in heat due to the shrapnel within the patient.Additionally, it has been established that at least some bacterialinfections involve the cooperation of bacteria to grow and form a largebacterial infection site, as opposed to remaining a collection ofindividual bacteria particles spread throughout an organism. Iron is animportant component of bacterial growth. As such, an induction systemmay be used to pinpoint regions of bacterial infection. Specifically,electromagnetic radiation may be passed through an area of an organismsuch that iron in a bacterial infection emanates heat. Heat detectorsmay then be used to identify areas emanating heat to pinpoint thelocation of the infection.

The induction systems described herein may also be used to study animallearning. Current tests that explore animal learning capabilities ofteninvolve the imposition of hunger on the animal with the utilization offood as a reward for performing some task such as completing a maze.Induction heating elements may similarly be used to study animallearning. For example, an animal may be placed into a cage in a coldenvironment, where a portion of the cage is made of ferrous materialthat generates heat when subjected to an electromagnetic radiation. Thecage may include the ferrous material in the form of spaced out stripsof metal that may be moved around by the animal. As an example, thespaced out strips of metal may be in a portion of a roof of the cage andobservers may determine how long it takes the animal to realize that itreceives heat if it stands proximate to the spaced out strips. Observersmay also determine whether the animal has the intelligence to manipulatethe strips (i.e., move them all together into a single unit) to increasethe heat in a given area of the cage, etc. Observers may also determinewhether one animal is capable of teaching another animal how tomanipulate the metal strips for a warming effect.

The embodiments described herein make it possible to create heat in adesired and targeted location without the use of convection, conduction,or heat radiation. Rather, electromagnetic radiation, which passesthrough tissue, food, plant matter, plastics, and non-ferrous metal, maybe used to heat ferrous metal placed in the location of choice. Theferrous metal may have any shape, dimension, or state, including solidor liquid. The heating of the ferrous metal may be completely controlledfor purposes of schedule, duration, repetition, and number of events fora given time period. Further, the level of heating may be modulated bythe nature of the electromagnetic radiation sent by the electromagneticradiation source. This enables the control and function at a distancenot possible in the past.

The techniques described herein may also be used to conduct targetedpinpoint heating in both living entities and inanimate objects. Forexample, placing a small amount of metal into an entity/object and thenpassing electromagnetic radiation through the metal may allow forselection, control, and in some instances, self-repair. Thisdifferential reception of electromagnetic radiation, which appears asheat may also be used to destroy unwanted tissue, or heal and reviveother tissue as the case may be. For example, consider a deviceimplanted in living tissue which on occasion requires a current flow,but not so often as to justify an implanted battery or complicatedreceiver. Such a device may be powered using induction heat by placing athermocouple wire in a desired location, where one end of thethermocouple wire is surrounded by additional ferrous material. Passingelectromagnetic radiation through the thermocouple wire induces atemperature gradient, which in turn generates the desired current toprovide power to the device, to perform nerve stimulation/treatment,accelerate healing, etc.

In another embodiment and as discussed above, a bimetallic strip may beplaced in a location which is not readily accessible and used tocomplete a circuit or interrupt a circuit, as discussed herein. Sendingelectromagnetic radiation at a desired time heats the bimetallic strip,causing it to bend and thereby control the circuit. This principle mayalso be extended to opening and closing a valve by heating it usinginduction heat by surrounding it with ferrous material and causing adesired expansion. Expansion of this kind may be used to control anenclosed fluid, which in turn may be used to direct the flow of otherliquids. The same principle may be used to melt a fuse in a circuit inorder to begin a function or operation, for example, to interrupt anongoing circuit at a predetermined time. Heat applied at a distance mayalso be used to induce adhesion of heat reactive adhesive in anindustrial setting, promote healing in a living body, and stimulate arepair that requires heat.

The danger of the inadvertent triggering of the induction devicesdescribed herein due to stray radiation is low. For example, manyindividuals wear and/or carry ferrous metal without having the metalheat up as a result of stray radiation in the environment. To implementthe induction devices described herein, strong, precisely directedelectromagnetic radiation is used. In rare circumstances, it may bedesirable to implement protective measures on the induction devices toprevent the effect of stray radiation, as is done relative topacemakers, for example.

There are many applications for the induction methods described herein,including use of a ferrous paper-like wrapper attached to anelectromagnetic source to heat food in any location, including at auser's desk, in a kitchen or lunchroom, in a restaurant, etc. In thefarming industry, the methods described herein may be used to preventfrost from damaging plants by placing ferrous material in or aroundplants and causing the ferrous material to selectively heat the plantsby applying the appropriate amount of electromagnetic radiation.Induction heating may also be used in blankets, clothes, etc. to heathumans and animals.

As discussed throughout, the ability to transmit heat remotely withoutthe need for conduction, convection, or heat radiation providesadvantages relative to safety, and does not require the installation ofwires to conduct electricity. Additionally, the ability to heat anobject or area at a distance without any effect on the interveningsubstance has a large number of applications. For example, systems whichrequire a cycle or a given order of operations may use remote andtargeted induction heating. A lighted sign, for example, may haveportions that light up at certain times and/or in a certain order.Targeted electromagnetic radiation may be used to activate ferrousswitches in the sign, thereby causing the appropriate portion to lightup at the appropriate time.

Similarly, an otherwise non-metallic motor may utilize ferrouscomponents to generate heat and/or a spark at appropriate times duringthe motor's cycle. The control of such targeted induction systems may becomputerized such that a user may precisely program the timing andlocation of electromagnetic radiation to achieve the desired result. Asan example, a teacher or salesperson may use induction heat toselectively light a whiteboard, sign, display, etc. to help make a pointor highlight a given area.

Additionally, experiments and processes that need intermittent heat, butthat require isolation from the ambient environment may also utilizeinduction to provide the heat. For example, contents of an experimentrequiring isolation may be housed in a plurality of sealed, non-ferrouscontainers. A ferrous element may be inserted into or attached to one ormore of the non-ferrous containers that requires intermittent heat tocomplete the experiment. The ferrous element(s) may be selectivelyheated at appropriate times to deliver heat without unsealing orotherwise disturbing the contents of the experiment. Crystal growth andcell growth are examples of experiments/procedures that may utilize heatat a distance to facilitate the growth. Heat may also be applied to asubstance (such as a PVC pipe) such that the substance is more inclinedto emit chemicals. For example, such heating may be used in conjunctionwith spectroscopy to improve the emissions of a substance so that theemissions are more readily detectable.

Induction heat may also be used to assist with surgical procedures thatutilize heat. For example, heat operations featuring ablations mayutilize heat that is physically transferred from outside to within thetarget area. In such a procedure, a small ferrous target may be placedwith great precision prior to surgery and may be monitored during thesurgery. In the context of atrial fibrillation, the inserted ferroustarget may be monitored over many heart cycles, and may be used totransfer heat to a target area to perform an ablation without distressto the patient. The ferrous target may easily be removed once the heatneed for the operation is delivered.

Remote and targeted heating may also be used to protect objects andsystems that are not readily accessible. For example, ferrous elementsmay be selectively placed near or around plastic pipes that carry water,and may be used to prevent the pipes from freezing during cold weatherconditions. Such pipes may be underground or within walls, and may beotherwise very difficult to access directly. In one embodiment, acomputerized system may control the heating of such pipes, and may beconfigured to automatically activate induction heating of the pipes whenthe temperature drops below a certain threshold, such as the freezingpoint.

As discussed herein, clothing may also take advantage of inductionheating through the incorporation of ferrous threads that are interwoveninto non-ferrous materials. When proximate to an electromagneticradiation source, the clothing may be heated, providing warmth to thewearer. Such electromagnetic radiation sources may be used in publicareas such as bus stops and other areas where individuals are exposed tothe elements. Electromagnetic radiation sources for use in heatingclothing may also be placed indoors and/or on public transportation suchas buses, trains, planes, etc.

Induction heating may also be used to protect trees and plants fromunusually cold temperatures. For example, ferrous elements may be placedproximate to the roots of a tree or other plant, and may thereby be usedto maintain the roots at a given temperature so that the plant does notdie. Such a process may be very beneficial in a tree nursery in which acold snap likely causes significant losses. In one embodiment, the potsof potted plants, such as flower pots, may include or be made fromferrous material such that the pot may be heated, thereby heating thesoil within the pot and the roots of any plants in the pot. For example,a flower pot can be constructed with ferrous metal inserted into thewalls of the container or surrounding the walls of the container. Aradiation source can be programmed to automatically turn on when a lowtemperature threshold is reached such that the plants can be safelywarmed with no safety concerns and no wires which may become excessivelyhot. Specifically, radiation travels to the element in or surroundingthe flower pot, and heats the pot, which in turn warms the plants. Thisconcept can be extended to large containers for plants, to greenhouses,and to tree roots. Animal cages can similarly be heated. Inductionheating may also be used to warm a bee hive without disturbing the bees.

Remote induction heating may also be used by rescue workers to help warmindividuals that are trapped or otherwise inaccessible. For example,workers trapped in a mine may have or be provided with ferrous materialto receive heat. Targeted electromagnetic radiation may then be used toheat the ferrous material. Similarly, individuals trapped under snow andice may receive heat via electromagnetic radiation if they are equippedwith ferrous material.

The concept of delivering heat into a living body has a number of uses.For example, drug delivery may be facilitated via induction. A drug maybe at least partly encased by a small amount of ferrous metal, and maybe released by a burst of electromagnetic radiation that is configuredto melt the small amount of metal. A drug may similarly be encased byplastic in a pod which is ingested or implanted and which also containsa small amount of ferrous material. When the pod reaches a target area,some electromagnetic radiation heats the ferrous material which meltsthe plastic and enables the drug to escape and treat the disease orinfection. The drug may be delivered into a tumor, for example. No othersources of thermal energy currently in use has such a little of adisturbing impact on the intervening tissue. Targeted induction heatingmay also be used to enhance vascular permeability, and may even be usedto transcend the blood-brain barrier as medical technology improves.

Heat may also be used to change the physical properties of objects suchas electrical resistance, length, hardness, etc. The embodimentsdescribed herein enable a new level of control in devices made ofplastics and other non-ferrous materials. Such devices may include aferrous element at a key location to serve as an active control. Forexample, consider two wooden surfaces which are intended to be joined orkept together in certain circumstances and kept apart in othercircumstances. One of the wooden surfaces may include a ferrous pin orrod attached thereto, and the other wooden surface may include a plasticreceptacle into which the pin or rod fits in a cool (i.e., unheated)condition. Upon heating, the rod or pin increases in diameter such thatthe rod or pin does not fit into the plastic receptacle. When the heatis removed, the diameter of the rod or pin decreases, thereby allowingit to fit into the plastic receptacle.

Thus, FIG. 22 depicts a device attachment mechanism of a device 2200having a male to female connection that is controlled via temperature,in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.In FIG. 22, the device 2200 includes an upper wood surface 2210 and alower wood surface 2220. A ferrous rod 2230 placed horizontally acrossthe opening is configured to fit into a plastic receptacle 2240 when theferrous rod is cool, and the ferrous rod is configured to not fit intothe plastic receptacle when the ferrous rod is heated.

In some instances, it is desirable or necessary for two chemicals to becombined at a specific time and/or location which are not accessible orconvenient. In an embodiment, the chemicals are placed in adjacentcontainers or in adjacent parts of the same container, and are separatedby an interface which can be melted by the addition of heat. At thisinterface, a ferrous element of appropriate size is placed and anelectromagnetic radiation source is placed nearby. At the appropriatetime, the radiation source is turned on, causing the ferrous element toheat up and melt the interface such that the chemicals are combined.

All applications needing heat can be designed to receive such heat usingthe combination of a radiation source and a ferrous element or material.For example, a thermocouple can be heated in this way, with induction atone end to create a current or control a switch in a circuit. Similarly,a stirling engine can use such induction heating as a source of heat incertain applications where other sources of heat are neither convenientnor safe. The ability to target and control the location and intensityof heating also makes the embodiments described herein useful insituations where it is desirable to dry liquids. This would include wetpaint on small (or even large) areas, chemical reactions, biologicalspecimens, liquid surface protectant that has been applied to a surface,and/or any other areas where a warm environment at a specific locationwill induce a more rapid drying.

Turning now to FIG. 23, an example of a medical device 2300 is shown, inaccordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. Themedical device 2300 may be configured for implantation within a subjectfor controlled medicine and/or other substance delivery using induction.The shape, size, and other configuration of the medical device 2300 mayvary from one embodiment to another. For example, although the medicaldevice 2300 has been shown as being rectangular parallelepiped in shape,in other embodiments, the shape and size of the medical device may varybased upon the location of implantation of the medical device within thesubject, the amount of medicine or other substance enclosed within themedical device, the manner of implantation, etc. The medical device 2300may be constructed of a biocompatible material that is suitable forplacement in the subject. For example, if the medical device 2300 isimplanted within a human subject, the medical device may be constructedfrom a material that is suitable for human consumption. In someembodiments, the medical device 2300 may be constructed at least in partof a non-ferrous material, and at least in part of a ferrous material.In some embodiments, at least a portion of the medical device 2300 maybe constructed of ferrous particles embedded in a non-ferrous material.

Furthermore, in some embodiments and as shown, the medical device 2300includes a plurality of compartments 2305. The plurality of compartments2305 may be integrally or removably formed within the medical device2300. Each of the plurality of compartments 2305 are configured to holdone or more medicines (or other substances) 2310 that are intended to bereleased based upon a controlled release function. The medicine can bean antibiotic, a cancer drug, an anti-inflammatory drug, a painkiller,an antibiotic, hydrogen peroxide, etc. In some embodiments, each of theplurality of compartments 2305 may be configured to release all of theone or more medicines 2310 stored in that compartment at one time, whilein other embodiments, each of the plurality of compartments may beconfigured to release only a portion of the one or more medicines at onetime. Thus, each of the plurality of compartments 2305 may be a singleor multi delivery compartment. In an alternative implementation, themedical device 2300 may include a single compartment.

The size of each of the plurality of compartments 2305 and the totalnumber of the plurality of compartments within the medical device 2300may vary from one embodiment to another. In some embodiments, each ofthe plurality of compartments 2305 may be sized to accommodate the oneor more medicines (or other chemicals/compounds/substances) 2310 thatare stored within that compartment. Thus, although each of the pluralityof compartments 2305 has been shown as being of the same size and shapein FIG. 23, in other embodiments, the size and shape of each of theplurality of compartments within the medical device 2300 may vary basedupon the number and amount of the one or more medicines 2310 to bedispensed by a particular one of the plurality of compartments.Additionally, although the plurality of compartments 2305 have beenshown as being arranged in a grid pattern, in other embodiments, thearrangement of each of the plurality of compartments within the medicaldevice 2300 may vary. For example, in some embodiments, the plurality ofcompartments 2305 may be arranged in the order in which they areconfigured to dispense the one or more medicines 2310 stored therein.For example, those ones of the plurality of compartments 2305 that areconfigured to dispense the one or more medicines 2310 earlier than otherones of the plurality of compartments may be arranged on or close to aperiphery of the medical device 2300, while the remaining ones of theplurality of compartments may be located towards a center of the medicaldevice.

Moreover, each of the plurality of compartments 2305 may be configuredas an enclosed structure to contain the one or more medicines 2310safely before dispensing. The manner in which each of the plurality ofcompartments 2305 dispenses the one or more medicines 2310 storedtherein may vary. In some embodiments, each of the plurality ofcompartments 2305 may at least partially be coated or constructed with aferrous material (e.g., nanoparticles), such that by receivingelectromagnetic radiation from an electromagnetic radiation source 2315,the ferrous material may be heated. Heat from the ferrous material maybe transferred to melt, disintegrate, or otherwise open the plurality ofcompartments 2305 to release the one or more medicines 2310 storedtherein. The amount (e.g., intensity or duration) of electromagneticradiation needed to heat the ferrous material and open one or more ofthe plurality of compartments 2305 may vary from other ones of theplurality of compartments. Thus, by knowing the amount ofelectromagnetic radiation needed to open a given one or more of theplurality of compartments 2305, the one or more medicines 2310 may beselectively dispensed. The amount of electromagnetic radiation neededmay be known to a user (e.g., the subject or entityadministering/monitoring/controlling the medical device 2300). In otherembodiments, mechanisms other than electromagnetic radiation may be usedto open each of the plurality of compartments 2305 to dispense the oneor more medicines 2310 stored therein, such as a circuit that iswirelessly controlled and configured to manually open compartments in aselective, time controlled manner. In yet other embodiments, one or moreof the plurality of compartments 2305 may not be enclosed. In suchembodiments, other mechanisms may be used to store the one or moremedicines 2310 within the plurality of compartments 2305 safely beforedispensing.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, instead of or in addition to having atleast a portion of one or more of the plurality of compartments 2305constructed from a ferrous material, the one or medicines 2310 maythemselves include ferrous substances. For example, in some embodiments,the one or more medicines 2310 may be encased in a housing, which inturn may be enclosed within a ferrous capsule (e.g., constructed out ofdietary iron or ferrous nanoparticles, etc.). By heating the ferrouscapsule using electromagnetic radiation from the electromagneticradiation source 2315, the housing surrounding the one or more medicines2310 may be melted to release the one or more medicines enclosedtherein. In other embodiments, the ferrous substance may be provided asa coating on the housing of the one or more medicines 2310, as a coatingon a surface of the one or more medicines, mixed within the one or moremedicines, or in any other form that may be suitable for releasing theone or more medicines. The number of nanoparticles or other ferrousmaterial used within the ferrous substance may be varied to vary theamount of heat that causes the one or more medicines 2310 to bereleased. The housing of the one or more medicines 2310 may be composedof a biocompatible material, including an edible polymer, resin,plastic, etc.

Although the medical device 2300 has been described as having theplurality of compartments 2305, in some embodiments, the plurality ofcompartments may instead be smaller medicine devices arranged andgrouped together within the medical device and configured to operatesimilar to the plurality of compartments described above. Each of thesmaller medicine devices may be configured to store the one or moremedicines 2310. In yet other embodiments, the one or more medicines 2310may be bundled together in a packet and multiple such packets may bearranged within the medical device 2300 for dispensing based upon thecontrolled release function. Thus, various configurations of providingthe one or more medicines 2310 within the medical device 2300 arecontemplated and considered within the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring still to FIG. 23, the medical device 2300 may be implantedwithin the subject in a variety of ways. For example, in someembodiments, the medical device 2300 may be small enough for the subjectto swallow. In other embodiments, the medical device 2300 may besurgically implanted or may be injected into the bloodstream of thesubject. In some embodiments, the medical device 2300 may bemagnetically guided to the desired location within the subject's body.Other suitable mechanisms of implantation may be used in otherembodiments. Once implanted within the subject, the medical device 2300may be controlled externally (e.g., from outside the subject) tofacilitate release of the one or more medicines 2310 stored within themedical device.

For example, targeted electromagnetic radiation from the electromagneticradiation source 2315 may be delivered to the medical device 2300 toselectively release the contents of one or more of the compartments2305. The electromagnetic radiation from the electromagnetic radiationsource 2315 may be used to heat the ferrous material provided in one ormore of the plurality of compartments 2305 and/or the one or moremedicines 2310. Heat from the ferrous material then causes the one ormore of the plurality of compartments 2305 to open and/or the housingsurrounding the one or more medicines 2310 to melt and release theenclosed medicine. When no housing is used with the one or moremedicines 2310, the heat from the ferrous material may cause the one ormore medicines to change form (e.g., melt) and be released. Theelectromagnetic radiation source 2315 is similar to the electromagneticradiation sources described above in the present disclosure. Theplacement of the electromagnetic radiation source 2315 relative to themedical device 2300 may vary. Likewise, multiple instances of theelectromagnetic radiation source 2315 may be used to control the heatdelivered to the medical device 2300. In some embodiments,disintegration of the wall/housing of the compartment causes thecompartment to detach from the from the medical device such that it isable to exit the patient. As such, the device may become smaller overtime as more and more compartments are detached and exit the patient.

In operation, the medical device 2300 may be used to deliver the one ormore medicines 2310 based upon the controlled release function. Thecontrolled release function may be include dispensing the one or moremedicines 2310 periodically at set time intervals, upon detection of aparticular health condition, as needed (e.g., for pain management), or acombination thereof. For example, the medical device 2300 may be aninsulin release device that may be configured to release a controlledamount of insulin at specific time intervals or when additional deliveryof insulin is needed. Likewise, the medical device 2300 may be a cancertreatment device that may be configured to selectively dispense cancertreatment drugs. In some embodiments, the medical device 2300 may beconfigured to store medicines to treat/control multiple conditions. Inother embodiments, multiple instances of the medical devices 2300, witheach instance of the medical device configured to treat/control one ormore health conditions may be used.

When dispensing of the one or more medicines 2310 is desired,electromagnetic radiation via the electromagnetic radiation source 2315may be directed towards the medical device 2310. The electromagneticradiation can be targeted such that it impacts a desired compartment ofthe medical device, causing release of the medicine (or other substance)from the targeted compartment. The amount of electromagnetic radiation(e.g., varying the intensity and/or duration of the electromagneticradiation) delivered by the electromagnetic radiation source 2315 mayalso be controlled such that ferrous material provided within specificone or more of the plurality of compartments 2305 and/or the one or moremedicines 2310 are heated to cause the release of the one or moremedicines. Thus, by controlling the amount of electromagnetic radiationthat is delivered to the medical device 2300, selective dispensing ofthe one or more medicines 2310 from the medical device may be achieved.

Therefore, the medical device 2300 may be used for repeated medicinedistribution for a period of time or for a specific number of uses. Bycontrolling the electromagnetic radiation that is delivered to themedical device 2300, the distribution of the one or more medicines 2310from the medical device 2300 may be controlled. The different amounts ofelectromagnetic radiation that cause the release of specific ones of theone or more medicines 2310 may be stored within a controller 2320. Thecontroller 2320 may control the electromagnetic radiation source 2315 tovary the electromagnetic radiation delivered by the electromagneticradiation source. Although the controller 2320 is shown separate fromthe electromagnetic radiation source 2315, in other embodiments, thecontroller and the electromagnetic radiation source may be integratedtogether.

In an embodiment, the person in whom the medical device 2300 is placedmay wear a small patch with ferrous elements, so that if he or sheinadvertently comes into proximity to a source of electromagneticradiation, the person will feel a small amount of heat from the patch.This heat will alert the person to move out of range of theelectromagnetic radiation source so that the ingested drug will not beprematurely released. Alternatively or in addition to the otherembodiments, the person may place a ferrous-containing patch over a siteof the medical device 2300. The patch would absorb stray electromagneticradiation and prevent premature release of medication from the medicaldevice 2300.

Although the present disclosure has been described in terms of placing adrug or medicine within the medical device 2300, in other embodiments,other desired substances may be used as well within the medical device.For example, in some embodiments, collagen, bacteria, yeast, sea weed,etc., may be placed within one or more of the plurality of compartments2305 of the medical device 2300. In other embodiments, other medicinalor non-medicinal substances may be placed within one or more of theplurality of compartments 2305. Furthermore, in some embodiments,different substances may be placed within different ones of theplurality of compartments 2305. For example, in some embodiments, afirst substance may be placed in a first compartment and a secondsubstance that is different from the first substance may be placed in asecond compartment of the plurality of compartments 2305. The pluralityof compartments 2305 may be configured such that the first and secondsubstances do not mix until a barrier separating the compartments inwhich the first and the second substances are stored is broken.

By virtue of providing the ability to selectively mix two substanceswithin the medical device 2300, the present disclosure provides amechanism to facilitate a selective chemical reaction within thesubject's body. Additionally, the two substances may just mixphysically, without chemically reacting with one another. For example,in some embodiments, the medical device 2300 may be positioned withinthe subject's body. The medical device 2300 may include the plurality ofcompartments 2305, with at least a subset of neighboring compartmentsbeing separated by barriers and carrying one or more substances that aredesired to be selectively mixed. When the mixing or the chemicalreaction is desired, the electromagnetic radiation source 2315 may beused to heat the ferrous materials within the barrier and transfer theheat from the ferrous material to disintegrate the barriers, therebyseparating the compartments holding the substances desired to be mixed.By disintegrating the barriers, multiple smaller compartments are mergedinto a bigger compartment and the substances within those smallercompartments are led to mix within the bigger compartment to obtain amixed substance. Additionally, the bigger compartment may also bedisintegrated to release the mixed substance into the subject's body, asdiscussed above by providing electromagnetic radiation from theelectromagnetic radiation source 2315.

In some embodiments, the intensity and/or amount of electromagneticradiation can be used to control the timing at which compartments areopened to release their medicine or other substance. For example, agiven compartment (or barrier) may include a large amount of ferrousmaterial and a thin meltable layer of plastic such that the givencompartment (or barrier) is a first compartment to release its substancein response to low intensity electromagnetic radiation. Anothercompartment may include the same amount of ferrous materials and aslightly thicker meltable layer of plastic such that the compartment isa second compartment to release its substance in response to lowintensity electromagnetic radiation. Another compartment may includeless ferrous material and the same thickness of meltable plastic suchthat the compartment is the third compartment to release its substancein response to the low intensity radiation. Yet another compartment mayinclude less ferrous material and/or more/thicker meltable plastic thatis only responsive to higher intensity electromagnetic radiation. Assuch, in addition to the amount/intensity of radiation, both the amountof ferromagnetic material and the amount/thickness of meltable plasticor other disintegrating material can also be used to control the timingof substance release.

In some embodiments, all of the compartments can include the same amount(or dose) of the same material (e.g., medicine), and the same dose canbe delivered to the patient on a periodic or aperiodic basis, such asevery 6 hours, every 12 hours, every 24 hours, once a week, as neededfor pain, etc. The physician could also skip one or more doses by notapplying electromagnetic radiation during one or more of the time slots.Alternatively, different compartments may include different substancessuch as antibiotics, pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, etc. Dependingon the symptoms of the patient, a physician can release the appropriatesubstance at the appropriate time. Alternatively, the compartments caninclude different amounts of the same substance that the physician cancontrol the dose of the substance based on which compartment is opened.Each compartment can also include the same or different amounts ofdifferent materials, such that the opening of a single compartment canrelease 2 or more drugs into the patient. One of the substances releasedinto the patient can be used to help provide an internal status to thephysician. For example, the substance can be a marking agent that isused to mark an internal injury such that the physician can performimaging that takes advantage of the marking agent to determine thestatus of an internal cut, hemorrhage, infection, etc.

The barriers that are used to separate the smaller compartments (orsub-compartments) of the plurality of compartments 2305 may beconstructed out of, or include, a ferromagnetic material. Further, theamount of heat needed to heat the ferrous material in the barriers maybe different from the amount of heat needed to heat the ferrous materialin the outside housing of the plurality of compartments 2305. In someembodiments, the barriers may be made of biocompatible plastic havingferrous components. In other embodiments, other biocompatible materialshaving ferrous components may be used.

In some embodiments, more than a single instance of the medical device2300 may be placed within the subject's body. Each one of the medicaldevice 2300 may include one or more substances (medicinal and/ornon-medicinal) and be configured to be positioned in different locationswithin the subject's body.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the medical device 2300 or anotherferromagnetic material (e.g., ferrous nano-particles or drugs encased inferrous substances, etc.) described above, may be used to capture imagesfrom within the subject's body. Specifically, the ferrous material maybe guided, implanted, or otherwise positioned within the body tissue ofthe subject that is desired to be photographed. Once in position,electromagnetic radiation may be delivered to heat the ferrous material.The heat generated by the ferrous material may be transferred to thesurrounding tissue, which absorbs the heat and thermoelastically expandsor generates thermoelastic noise to create ultrasonic waves. Theultrasonic waves may be detected using ultra sonic transducers. Thus,the ferrous materials may also be used for medical imaging purposes.

In some embodiments, an acid (or alternatively a base) can be used todisintegrate the compartment barriers/walls such that the substance isreleased from the compartment. The acid can be a biocompatible acidwhich includes ferrous particles that, upon receipt of electromagneticradiation, causes the acid to heat up and react with the barrier/wall.Alternatively, the heating of the acid can cause an internal plasticmembrane (i.e., a plastic membrane within a compartment that separatesthe acid from the compartment wall) to melt, which releases the acidinto the compartment such that the acid can disintegrate an exteriorwall of the compartment and release substance(s) from the compartmentinto the patient. Alternatively, the acid can disintegrate an interiorwall between compartments or an intra-compartment wall to mix substancesfrom two adjacent compartments or within a single compartment,respectively. In such an embodiment, the user is less likely toexperience a heat sensation because the only thing being melted is theplastic membrane which is internal to the device.

In another illustrative embodiment, the medical device 2300 can be usedto house one or more molecular nanomachines. A molecular nanomachine canrefer to any molecular component that produces mechanical (orquasi-mechanical) movements in response to a stimulus (or activator).The activator can be light, heat, other radiation, one or morechemicals, etc. The molecular nanomachines can be artificial orbiological, and can be in the form of molecular motors (or drills),molecular shuttles, molecular switches, molecular propellers, molecularassemblers, etc. As an example, biological molecular nanomachines can bein the form multi-protein complexes, myosin, kinesin, dynein, ATPsynthase, DNA polymerases, RNA polymerases, spliceosome, ribosome, etc.Artificial molecular nanomachines can include rotaxane molecules and/orother chemicals that utilize and manipulate molecular interactions.

The one or more molecular nanomachines can be positioned in one or moreof the compartments 2305 of the medical device 2300, and can be used totarget infection causing bacteria, tumors, and other problem areaswithin a patient. In some embodiments, the molecular nanomachines can beused to directly target areas, and to interact with those areas via thephysical movement of the nanomachine. For example, molecular drills canbe used to directly target and kill bacteria by boring their way intothe bacteria and damaging it. The molecular nanomachines can also beused in conjunction with a medicine to deliver the medicine to a targetarea. For example, in the example above, the molecular drills can becoated with antibiotics and used to carry/deliver antibiotics to aninfection site. Similarly, molecular drills or other molecularnanomachines may be used to deliver medicine to help kill cancer cellsof a tumor.

In an illustrative embodiment, the medical device 2300, which includesmolecular nanomachines in one or more compartments 2305 thereof, can beingested by a user or inserted into the user to deliver the device 2300to a target location within the patient. For example, the user canswallow the medical device 2300, the medical device 2300 can be injectedvia a needle or other intravenous method, the medical device 2300 can beinserted through an incision, etc. Once positioned at the target area,electromagnetic radiation can be directed to the medical device 2300 asdiscussed herein to release the one or more molecular nanomachines andany medicine that is to accompany them. For example, ferromagneticnanoparticles can be incorporated into various walls of the medicaldevice 2300, and heating of the ferromagnetic nanoparticles by theradiation can melt/disintegrate the walls such that the molecularnanomachines are released.

In some embodiments, the electromagnetic radiation used to target thewalls for release of the molecular nanomachines can also be used toactivate the nanomachines. Alternatively, additional and/or differentradiation than that used to release the nanomachines may be used toactivate the molecular nanomachines. In one embodiment, the molecularnanomachines can be light activated. In such an embodiment, two or morecompartments 2305 of the medical device 2300 can include chemicals that,when combined, generate light (i.e., chemiluminescence) to activate thenanomachines. In such an embodiment, the nanomachines can be in the oneof the compartments that includes the light generating chemicals, or thenanomachines can be in one or more compartments that do not include thechemicals. Any chemicals, the combination of which results inchemiluminescence of a desired light/intensity, may be used as theactivator. The chemicals can include luminol, nitric oxide, nitricdioxide, phosphorus, hydrogen peroxide, etc. An appropriate catalyst mayalso be included in one or more of the compartments to facilitate thelight-generating reaction. The catalyst can be in the samecompartment(s) as one or both of the chemicals, and/or can be positionedin a separate compartment. In alternative embodiments, more than twochemicals may be used to generate the light, which is in turn used toactivate the nanomachines.

In another embodiment, two or more chemicals within the medical device2300 can be used to create generate ultraviolet (UV) light, and the UVlight can be used to target and kill bacteria and/or other cells. Forexample, a first chemical can be in a first compartment of the medicaldevice 2300 and a second chemical can be in a second compartment of themedical device 2300. A barrier wall between the first and secondcompartments can include ferromagnetic material, and the barrier wall isconfigured to disintegrate in response to electromagnetic radiation.Upon disintegration of the barrier wall, the first chemical and thesecond chemical come into contact with one another to generate thelight. The electromagnetic radiation also causes one or more exteriorwalls (which include ferromagnetic material) of the medical device 2300to disintegrate such that the generated light contacts targets in thetarget area. In such an embodiment, the exterior wall(s) can includeless (or different) ferromagnetic material than the barrier wall suchthat the barrier wall breaks down first, which allows the chemicalreaction to begin to occur prior to disintegration of the exteriorwall(s).

In one embodiment, the medical device 2300 can be used to deliverferromagnetic nanoparticles to a target area in or on a patient. Forexample, one or more compartments of the medical device 2300 can includeferromagnetic nanoparticles. Upon receipt of electromagnetic radiation,the ferromagnetic nanoparticles are heated, which allows them to breakthrough the wall(s) of the medical device 2300 and contact a target areaat which one or more targets are present such as a tumor, bacteria, etc.The heated ferromagnetic nanoparticles can be used to kill cells of thetumor or bacteria via the generated heat. Since the generated heat isvery localized, the patient should experience only minimal discomfort.In one embodiment, the walls(s) of the compartment(s) in which theferromagnetic nanoparticles are located can also include additionalferromagnetic particles to help melt/disintegrate the wall(s) forrelease of the ferromagnetic nanoparticles in the compartment. Amedicine can also be associated with the ferromagnetic nanoparticles anddelivered to a target area along with the particles. For example, amedicine can be used to coat the particles prior to ingestion/insertioninto the patient. The medicine can be a cancer drug, ananti-inflammatory, a pain-killer, an antibiotic, etc.

In one embodiment, movement of the ferromagnetic particles within thepatient (i.e., particles released by the medical device 2300) can beaccomplished via the use of magnets that are external to the patient. Bymoving the magnets adjacent to the patient, the ferromagnetic particlescan be moved to a desired target area within the patient. This processcan be performed in part with an imaging system such as x-ray,tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, etc. The imagingsystem allows a physician to monitor the location of the ferromagneticparticles within the patient, and to visualize movement of theferromagnetic particles responsive to movement of the externalmagnet(s).

In another embodiment, the ferromagnetic nanoparticles can be placedinto the patient by methods other than the medical device 2300. Forexample, in one embodiment, the nanoparticles can be injected through asyringe or other intravenous method. An incision in the patient may alsobe used to insert and/or position the ferromagnetic nanoparticles. Onceinserted, the nanoparticles can be moved/manipulated with one or moremagnets and an imaging system, as discussed above. Electromagneticradiation can also be used to heat the nanoparticles in an effort totarget and kill problem cells (i.e., targets) such as bacteria andtumors. In one embodiment, at least a portion of a syringe or needle caninclude or be composed of a ferromagnetic material. The syringe orneedle can be inserted into a patient such that the ferromagneticmaterial is in contact with one or more targets in a target area. Insuch an embodiment, electromagnetic radiation can be used to heat theferromagnetic material of the syringe/needle such that the syringeneedle is able to damage and/or kill the targets in the target area. Animaging system can be used to help position the needle/syringe at thetarget area within the patient.

Turning now to FIG. 24, a pipe 2400 is shown, in accordance with someembodiments of the present disclosure. The pipe 2400 may be constructedout of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or any other material that is commonlyused. Pipes exposed to lower or below freezing temperatures are oftenprone to freezing over and bursting. To prevent these pipes frombursting, in some embodiments, a ferromagnetic sleeve 2405 may beprovided around the pipe 2400. The ferromagnetic sleeve 2405 may becomposed of, or may include, ferrous materials that are configured to beheated by electromagnetic radiation from electromagnetic radiationsource 2410. The heat from the ferromagnetic sleeve 2405 is transferredto the pipe 2400, thereby heating the body of the pipe and preventingthe fluid inside the pipe from freezing and bursting the pipe. In someembodiments, the electromagnetic radiation source 2410 may be configuredto turn on automatically by the lower temperatures surrounding the pipe2400. In other embodiments, the electromagnetic radiation source 2410may be connected to a controller, which in turn may control theelectromagnetic radiation source to deliver the electromagneticradiation to the ferromagnetic sleeve 2405.

Further, although the pipe 2400 is shown as completely encompassed bythe ferromagnetic sleeve 2405 in FIG. 24, in other embodiments, only aportion of the pipe may be encompassed. Further, protecting the pipe2400 from bursting is simply one example. In other embodiments, theferromagnetic sleeve 2405 may be used around a tree or plant to protectthe tree or plant from damage in colder temperatures. In otherembodiments, the ferromagnetic sleeve 2405 may be used around otherobjects that are at risk of damage from colder temperatures. Theferromagnetic sleeve 2405 may be constructed to be flexible to at leastsomewhat mold around the object that the ferromagnetic sleeve isdesigned to protect. In some embodiments, the ferromagnetic sleeve 2405may be in contact with the pipe 2400 or the object that theferromagnetic sleeve is protecting. In other embodiments, theferromagnetic sleeve 2405 may be placed at a small distance from thepipe 2400 or the other object.

In some embodiments, control of the heating elements described hereinmay be implemented at least in part as computer-readable instructionsstored on a computer-readable medium, such as a computer memory orstorage device. Upon execution of the computer-readable instructions bya processor, the computer-readable instructions may cause the computingdevice to perform the operations by directing the radiation source tobegin in a desired fashion.

The foregoing description of illustrative embodiments has been presentedfor purposes of illustration and of description. It is not intended tobe exhaustive or limiting with respect to the precise form disclosed,and modifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings or may be acquired from practice of the disclosed embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A medical delivery device comprising: a firstcompartment comprising at least a portion of an activator that activatesone or more molecular nanomachines, wherein the first compartmentincludes a first wall that includes a first ferrous material, andwherein the first wall is configured to disintegrate in response tofirst electromagnetic radiation received by the first ferrous materialsuch that the activator activates the one or more molecularnanomachines; and a second compartment comprising the one or moremolecular nanomachines, wherein the second compartment includes a secondwall dividing the first compartment and the second compartment, thesecond wall comprising a second ferrous material, and wherein the secondwall is configured to disintegrate and release one or more activatedmolecular nanomachines into a patient in response to secondelectromagnetic radiation received by the second ferrous material. 2.The medical delivery device of claim 1, further comprising: anelectromagnetic radiation source; and a controller in communication withthe electromagnetic radiation source, wherein the controller isconfigured to emit the first electromagnetic radiation to cause theactivator to activate the one or more molecular nanomachines at a firsttime and to emit the second electromagnetic radiation to cause releaseof the one or more activated molecular nanomachines at a second timethat is after the first time.
 3. The medical delivery device of claim 1,further comprising a medicine in the second compartment, wherein the oneor more activated molecular nanomachines are configured to deliver themedicine to a target area in the patient.
 4. The medical delivery deviceof claim 1, wherein the activator comprises a first chemical and asecond chemical, wherein the first chemical is positioned in the firstcompartment.
 5. The medical delivery device of claim 4, furthercomprising a third compartment adjacent to the first compartment,wherein the third compartment holds the second chemical, and wherein thethird compartment includes a third wall that includes a third ferrousmaterial.
 6. The medical delivery device of claim 5, wherein the thirdwall is configured to disintegrate in response to third electromagneticradiation such that the first chemical mixes with the second chemical togenerate light that activates the one or more molecular nanomachines. 7.The medical delivery device of claim 1, wherein the first wall is atleast a portion of a capsule, the capsule containing the activator andthe one or more molecular nanomachines.
 8. The medical delivery deviceof claim 1, wherein the first wall is formed from a biocompatibleplastic that includes the first ferrous material.
 9. The medicaldelivery device of claim 1, wherein the first ferrous material comprisesa first type of ferrous material and the second ferrous materialcomprises a second type of ferrous material that differs from the firsttype of ferrous material.
 10. The medical delivery device of claim 1,wherein the first ferrous material comprises a first amount of ferrousmaterial and the second ferrous material comprises a second amount ofthe ferrous material that differs from the first amount.
 11. The medicaldelivery device of claim 1, wherein the activator comprises a chemicalthat reacts with the one or more molecular nanomachines to activate theone or more molecular nanomachines.
 12. The medical delivery device ofclaim 1, further comprising one or more magnets positioned external tothe patient, wherein the one or more magnets are used to position thefirst compartment and the second compartment of the medical deliverydevice within the patient.
 13. The medical delivery device of claim 1,wherein the first electromagnetic radiation has a first intensity andthe second electromagnetic radiation has a second intensity that isgreater than the first intensity.
 14. The medical delivery device ofclaim 1, wherein the first compartment also includes one or more wallsthat do not include the first ferrous material.